INMO fears repeat of trolley number record

Health Minister James Reilly has been urged to make extra funds available to prevent another January catastrophe overwhelming emergency departments.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation made the call after the group’s latest count showed 467 people were on trolleys yesterday.

The figure, which is six higher than on Tuesday, is up significantly on the 345 on the same day last year.

This is partially because the INMO has only recently been able to include people on trolleys in wards outside the emergency department in its count, which yesterday added 93 people to the list.

However, despite this explanation, the increase has led to staff fears that the Jan 5, 2011, record of 569 people on trolleys could be repeated — leading to INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, urging Dr Reilly to intervene.

“I share people’s concern that we don’t have the money, but we need the resources to open some of the 2,100 beds that are closed, make more home care packages available and reduce overcrowding,” he said.

“There is a better awareness of the issue now from hospital management, and in fairness to the minister a lot of that is because of the department’s special delivery unit.

“But this is a problem that is happening every January and February. If it is that predictable, then why can it not be avoidable too.”

According to the INMO, among the worst affected hospitals yesterday were:

* Beaumont: 49 patients on trolleys (43 in emergency department and six in other wards);

* University Hospital Galway: 37 (26 and 11);

* Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore: 33 (28 and five);

* James Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown: 32 (16 and 16);

* Mercy University Hospital, Cork City: 30 (all in the emergency department);

* Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar: 29 (20 and nine).

While the HSE suggested a number of patients on trolleys in non-emergency department wards have in fact been given beds, the INMO insisted the inclusion of the rate gives a more transparent account of the true trolley count level.

A HSE spokesperson said while “a number of hospitals” are under pressure, this is because of “the seasonal flux in hospital activity that traditionally takes places after Christmas”.

This increase is blamed on people with flu and elderly patients with more complex conditions which result in longer periods in hospital.

The spokesperson said since the latest spike in trolley numbers emerged affected hospitals have been in “intensive engagement” with the special delivery unit, which was set up to help improve hospital performance, to address the situation.

This has resulted in a 10% reduction in the number of people waiting on trolleys at 2pm yesterday (222), compared with the same time on Tuesday (246).