Protests mount as more hospital patients wait on trolleys

Relatives of patients stranded on trolleys in hospital corridors today begged the Government to give them some dignity.

Around 100 family members, nurses and supporters held a protest outside the Dáil calling on Health Minister Mary Harney to take charge of the issue and halt the spiralling waiting times for beds in accident and emergency departments.

Their outrage came as it emerged 30 more patients had been put on trolleys within the last 24 hours, taking the total to more than 210 nationwide.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said although the problem was most acute in the Dublin and Eastern region, it was not confined to them.

INO president Madeline Spiers likened the health service to the American system whereby patients were only treated if they could afford it.

“There are huge numbers of patients inappropriately placed, taking up acute beds when they should be receiving specialist care,” she said.

“Mary Harney must look at bed capacity and assess patient needs. The ideas are great but there is no political will to implement change.”

Des Mulreany, whose mother May, an 84-year-old pensioner, has been on a trolley in the Mater Hospital, Dublin since Saturday, said: “The buck stops at Mary Harney.”

He said the plight of his mother and the 20 other patients on trolleys in the Mater, was disgusting and a disgrace. “This has got to stop,” he added. “We are pleading with Mary Harney to give us some dignity.”

The family of 72-year-old Kathleen Kelly, also on a trolley in the Mater, joined the throngs waving placards and chanting.

Her brother Jim Kelly was not optimistic the Government would heed their concerns.

“They have known about this for seven or eight years and have done nothing,” he said. “It’s a waste of time and will make no difference at all. Even if Kathleen gets a bed there will be others stuck on trolleys.”

He said his sister was scared stiff and very afraid about being left in such a communal area.

Labour Party health spokeswoman Liz McManus said the situation was “outrageous.”

She expressed disbelief that the problem had got so bad and called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to make a statement pledging commitment to the patients and their families.