A&E campaigner tells of patient left in storeroom

A heart patient was forced to wait for treatment on a chair in a storeroom at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, TD Joe Costello claimed today as he continued his weekly protest over the A&E crisis.

The Labour party’s justice spokesman said the man, who had collapsed at home, was put in the storeroom because there was no room in the emergency ward.

He was told he was 35th in line for treatment and would have to wait on the chair for three or four days but chose to check himself out, Mr Costello said.

“This is the sad and sorry state of our emergency medicine.

“The minister promised more than a year ago her ten-point plan promising major improvements in A&E.

“The situation is continuing to deterorate rapidly. Effectively there is no A&E service for seriously ill and vulnerable people,” he said.

Mr Costello is continuing his weekly protest outside the Mater Hospital this lunchtime, to draw attention to wat he described as the worsening situation in the country’s A&E departments.