Consultant: HSE fudging emergency waiting times

A leading emergency medicine consultant has accused the HSE of “fudging” patient waiting times in emergency departments (EDs).

Peadar Gilligan, who works in Beaumont Hospital, said that instead of starting the clock when the patient registers at the emergency department hatch, the waiting time is only measured from the time the decision is made to admit the patient.

“The HSE actually looks at the time of the bed being requested by the admitting team which oftentimes is four or five hours after the patient arrives.