Nurses sought to tackle overcrowding

The HSE began conducting emergency interviews yesterday to recruit extra nurses to deal with patient overcrowding at Limerick’s main hospital.

The HSE was responding to the ongoing situation at the emergency department at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, after calls for help by nurses yesterday.

Nurses said there were 35 people — including an 85-year-old man — who were waiting on trolleys.

Mary Fogarty, of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, said the hospital was dealing with 74 patients that did not have adequate bedding.

“[The hospital] also had an additional 25 patients in an overflow ward, and they also had a further 14 patients on extra trollies and beds around the hospital, in total, 74 patients this morning at the hospital who don’t have designated in-patient beds.

“And they don’t have properly allocated nursing staff to look after them,” Ms Fogarty said.

“We’ve no idea of the timeframe for the additional staff. We’re waiting on the HSE to revert to us with options that they have been looking at.”

Jim McGrath, SIPTU, warned the public to stay away from the hospital’s emergency department, unless their visit was absolutely essential.

In a statement the HSE admitted the hospital’s emergency department was suffering.

The HSE appealed to the public to co-operate by attending their GPs wherever possible before presenting at the emergency department.