Plan to inspect A&E units unveiled

The Health and Safety Authority is to inspect 11 accident and emergency units across the country in the next month, it emerged tonight.

Amid the on-going crisis of hundreds of patients lying on trolleys in A&E wards the HAS said a series of safety checks would be carried out from next week in Dublin’s Beaumont, Mater and Connolly Memorial hospitals.

A further eight units across the state will be inspected before April 8.

As the authority confirmed it would be assessing safety risks in hospitals nationwide 339 patients were left languishing on trolleys in A&E units awaiting a bed.

The authority revealed it had sent 22 letters to hospital chief executives or relevant Health Boards around the country over health and safety concerns in A&E departments.

Tom Beegan, Health and Safety Authority chief executive, said there had been a good level of response to letters sent to the hospitals.

“I hope that this is indicative of a commitment by hospital managers to improving standards of occupational health and safety on the ground,” he said.

“We have considered the responses and based on our analysis of them will now be taking the process to another level by carrying out a targeted programme of inspections.

“These inspections aim to ensure that hospitals are putting in place all necessary control procedures to ensure that risks are minimised.”

The HAS asked hospital management to compile a comprehensive written risk assessment and also called on hospital staff to ensure their own safety and that of others and to liaise with their management to address any risks.

The HAS revealed between 2000 and 2004 two people were killed in the health and social work sectors, and in the same period there were 3,505 non-fatal accidents reported.

The 11 hospitals to be assessed are, Naas General Hospital, Wexford General Hospital, Limerick Regional Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Sligo General Hospital, University College Hospital Galway, Clonmel Hospital, the Mercy Hospital in Cork and Dublin’s Beaumont, Mater and Connolly Memorial hospitals.

Hospitals will be notified when the inspectors are to visit.