24,880 patients on hospital trolleys in first quarter of 2011
The number of patients on trolleys increased to 24,880 during the first quarter of 2011, up 18% since 2006 when there were 21,110 over the same period.
Trolley figures dropped to between 16,000 and 18,000 between 2007 and 2009 before increasing again last year to 21,448.
There was a 54% increase in 2011 compared to 2008 — when there were 16,124 patients on trolleys.
The INMO said the figures confirmed that the crisis was worsening, despite the repeated commitments by Government and management to the contrary.
The organisation’s trolley watch, taken yesterday, show there were 472 patients on trolleys in hospitals throughout the country.
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda and St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin each had 41 patients on trolleys while the hospital in Tallaght had 38.
Health Minister James Reilly said last week there was never to be a repeat of the situation last January when more than 500 patients were on trolleys.
The INMO said record overcrowding was inevitable because of cutbacks in health services including bed closures and the reduction in community-based home supports and services.
“These figures confirm the need for the new minister to act immediately, and that does not mean closing beds or curtailing further services, to address this issue,” the INMO said.
General secretary Liam Doran said the measures to be introduced must include additional bed capacity.
Mr Doran said the INMO was awaiting an early meeting with Minister Reilly to discuss the trolley situation and other issues.
In a briefing document, the Department of Health warned the minister there could be more bed closures this year due to the overriding requirement of hospitals to stay within budget.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) warned that any hospital making bed closures would make it harder to treat patients.
IHCA secretary general Martin Varley said the number of patients being treated in hospitals was increasing every year at a time when beds were being closed due to insufficient funding.
Mr Varley, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, said the IHCA had asked for an early meeting and believed there was scope for improvement in the situation.
“Consultants have an extremely good knowledge of how things can be done better in the health service,” said Mr Varley, adding that closing beds was counter-productive.
