'Staggering' wait times at CUH criticised as national trolley figures hit near-high for 2023

Finian Toomey highlighted "staggering" and "unacceptable" conditions in the CUH emergency department (ED) after he spent seven hours there with a relative on Monday. Picture: Dan Linehan

An Aontu representative and Blarney native has hit out at waiting times at Cork University Hospital (CUH) as national trolley figures hit the third-highest point of the year so far.

Finian Toomey highlighted "staggering" and "unacceptable" conditions in the CUH emergency department (ED) after he spent seven hours there with a relative on Monday.

His relative left after the wait without having seen a doctor.

Mr Toomey explained: "My relative received pain relief from the nurses and left when the pain reduced, without seeing a doctor. This is unacceptable, yet it has become too common an experience."

In figures seen by Aontú, 17,247 people left CUH's ED without being seen in the last five years.

Mr Toomey continued: "The crisis at CUH is becoming unworkable. Last year CUH reached a record number of patients waiting for beds. This is the consequence of complete Government underinvestment in our health care services. 

"Staff at CUH are under-resourced and overworked" he told Life FM.

It comes as the number of people waiting on a bed across Irish hospitals has hit 665 — the third-highest figure of 2023 so far.

Only on January 3 (931) and January 4 (838) have higher totals been recorded by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) via its Trolley Watch database.

University Hospital Limerick had 106 patients on trolleys across wards on Tuesday morning. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

University Hospital Limerick (UHL) continues to struggle with capacity, with 106 patients on trolleys across wards as of Tuesday morning — an increase of 13 on Monday's figures.

CUH has 63 patients on hospital, while University Hospital Galway (56 patients), St Vincent's (43 patients) and St James' (41 patients) round out the top five worst-affected hospitals by the overcrowding crisis.

In January, thousands protested to highlight hospital overcrowding and delays at the emergency department in UHL.

The INMO said it was requesting that the HSE very clearly advises the public of long delays in emergency departments across all hospital sites.

Speaking on Monday, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha urged the HSE to make the provision of safe care a "priority".

"The HSE must direct hospitals to cancel electives and concentrate on the de-escalation of trolleys from understaffed and overburdened wards.

"It is obvious that in times of severe overcrowding such as this weekend and going into the week ahead, that our public hospital system cannot provide both safe emergency and elective care."

Last week, the INMO confirmed it was to commence a ballot of ICU nurses in UHL in pursuance of safe staffing.

Further ballots for industrial action will take place on a location-by-location basis, though the INMO have not ruled out a countrywide campaign.

The Irish Examiner has contacted HSE South Hospital Group for comment.