You can’t cut beds, staff and home help without consequences

SUCH rampant overcrowding at this early stage of the year does not bode well, writes Liam Doran

AT this stage some patients waiting on trolleys will have been there over 24 hours, some for 48 hours to 72 hours, and their living environment is intolerable. People side-by-side, with no space between them, or head-to-toe on the trolleys; staff cannot get oxygen or suction to them, meals are delivered in sandwiches with cups of tea, toileting is done with a curtain rail around them or they are escorted to the toilet with a gown half open — it is a shocking, undignified situation and should not be experienced by anyone.

This has been a problem for eight years and nothing has been done about it. You have political neglect, political disinterest. The reality of it is that it was declared a national emergency in 2006. In fact, in late 2006 and early 2007, the situation did improve because they improved the level of home help, access to long-term continuing care beds, and they opened closed beds. Progress was made, and our public statements at the time would confirm that.