Up to 66 patients on trolleys at city’s two main hospitals

AS many as 66 people were waiting on trolleys at Cork’s two major hospitals yesterday, a figure on a par with the worst period of the winter emergency department crisis.

Just 24 hours after a shocking 59 patients were forced to wait for vital treatment at Cork University Hospital (CUH), a number of HSE measures reduced the figure there to 46.

However, during the same period, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) trolley count figures showed the number of people waiting at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) had risen from eight to 20.

As a result, the union’s statistics show while CUH’s trolley levels dropped by 13 during the period, MUH’s rate rose by 12 — indicating the crisis is not yet resolved.

The HSE has questioned the accuracy of the INMO figures as it takes its own count at a different time to the union.

However, even by comparing only the union’s figures, yesterday’s CUH trolley rate was still higher than any day this year except for January 5 (48 patients) and Monday (59).

In addition, the MUH level yesterday was higher than every day this year except January 5 (25).

One patient who contacted the Irish Examiner about their treatment at one of the facilities said they had given up on receiving adequate care and instead opted to sign into a private hospital.

The HSE said it is implementing a series of measures at CUH in an attempt to resolve the issue, which comes just a week after a long-awaited Acute Medical Unit costing more than €1 million and predicted to significantly reduce patient waits was opened.

Among the measures the HSE has introduced include the postponement of non-urgent/elective surgeries, the opening of more beds and an increase in home supports for those who do not need to be admitted to hospital.

The ongoing trolley crisis was also apparent in other parts of the country yesterday, with the INMO stating that a total of 468 people waiting for treatment at emergency departments in all regions.

The worst offending hospitals included Tallaght (47 patients), Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown (37), University Hospital Galway (32) and Wexford General (26).

This was the fifth highest daily figure according to the union to date this year — below only January 4 (511 patients), January 5 (569), January 6 (492) and January 12 (492).

It is also just 27 people less than the national total on the day in March 2006 when Health Minister Mary Harney described the situation as “a national emergency” she ensured would be prioritised.