Patients Together slams Govt silence on A&E crisis

The Patients Together lobby group has accused the Government of failing to recognise the drastic effects that bed shortages are having on patients.

Hundreds of patients have been waiting on trolleys in overcrowded accident and emergency departments throughout the country over the past few days due to a lack of beds in hospital wards.

Patients Together spokesperson Janette Byrne said the Government's silence on the matter was deafening.

"To me it's disgusting when 360 people in this country are lying on trolleys and sitting in chairs for days and there's no response from the Department of Health," she said.

"These people are unable to wash, unable to sleep. They can't tell the difference between day or night. It's just continuous florescent light shining brightly in their faces.

"It's a horrendous situation for people to be put into."