Report claims A&E Dept too small in Drogheda hospital

A new report claims that Drogheda hospital's accident and emergency department is too small for the number of patients who attend it.

The consultants' review of emergency services says the hospital's infrastructure, facilities and work practices are lagging well behind what is needed to deal with growing demand.

This new report shows that until a few years ago the hospital was a regional centre providing for patients in the northeast of the country.

Now however, with the growth of the commuter belt, the A&E Department is being forced to deal with 37,000 people a year, putting major strain on staff and facilities.

The report says that ideally a new facility should be provided, but in the interim proposes a number of reforms, including a review of medical and nursing rosters to ensure staffing matches peak activity.