‘No guarantee of avoiding patients on trolleys repeat’

THE head of a specialist unit established by Health Minister James Reilly to reduce waiting times for hospital treatment has said no guarantees can be given that last year’s record high number of patients on trolleys will not be repeated this winter.

However, Tony O’Brien, the chief operation officer of the Department of Health’s Special Delivery Unit (SDU), said they were set to meet the target of ensuring no patient was on a waiting list for elective surgery for more than 12 months by the end of December.

Mr O’Brien yesterday promised that “no stone will be left unturned” by the health authorities to reduce overcrowding in emergency& departments over the coming months.