25% surge in numbers treated on hospital trolleys

THE number of people treated on hospital trolleys this winter is 25% higher than this time last year — and may grow further if more people cancel their health insurance due to budget-induced price hikes.

Trolley count figures for the past five weeks show that, despite senior officials insisting the Christmas 2010 overcrowding crisis will not be repeated, hospitals are already witnessing a surge in emergency department intake.

According to the INMO figures, the number of people forced to wait for treatment on public hospital trolleys rose from 6,999 in November 2010 to 7,484 last month — a 7% increase.

During the first four days of this month trolley count numbers also rose significantly, up from 933 between December 1 and 4 last year to 1,243 — a 25% surge.

Between November 2010 and last month the average daily trolley count for all public hospitals in Ireland rose from 308 to 340, while the December 2010 and 2011 figures showed a 248 to 311 average daily rise.

The two most recent trolley count days since the survey, Tuesday and Wednesday, saw 359 and 325 patients on trolleys. This compares with 307 and 373 on the same dates last year. No corresponding figure for December 5 was available from the INMO.

The rise in trolley count rates in recent weeks will cause concerns that the national crisis which emerged in the first days of January — when as many as 569 patients were on trolleys in a single day — could be repeated.

Since entering office in March, Health Minister Dr James Reilly has established a special delivery unit (SDU) to address the issue and said he will not allow the trolley count water-mark to be met again.

The latest INMO figures were released in the aftermath of budget plans for the state to stop subsidising private patients in public facilities.

Under the move, which is due to come into effect from January 1, private patients who are placed in public beds will have to pay private bed charges — even if they have already gone through lengthy emergency department trolley waits. The Department of Health has estimated that half of people who go through a&e departments are private patients.

VHI is considering a number of proposals to balance its books in response to the decision, including the possibility of premium costs rising by up to 50%.

Aviva Health Insurance and Quinn Healthcare customers are also likely to be affected by the move.

All three health insurers met with the department’s general secretary, Michael Scanlan, on Monday to discuss the implications of the budget decision.

Further meetings are also planned with Dr Reilly within the next fortnight in order to detail the specific charges insurers will face due to the public hospital changes.

The impact this will have on those with health insurance will be finalised after these discussions take place.

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