Patient safety being 'compromised' by 'unacceptable' hospital overcrowding — INMO
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha: 'Nurses and midwives are now dealing with very real risks to patient and staff safety.' File picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie
More than 2,500 hospital patients were unable to get a bed this week and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) have warned of further risks this bank holiday weekend.
The union linked the crisis to the ongoing recruitment freeze across HSE sites, saying gaps in rosters are adding to the problems.
On Friday, alone some 444 patients, including 31 children, were without a bed by morning, bringing the weekly total to 2,528.
There were 82 waiting for a bed at University Hospital Limerick, 32 in Cork University Hospital and 17 at the Mercy University Hospital.
Separate HSE data shows 42 of those people had been waiting longer than 24 hours by Friday morning, with eight of the 42 aged over 75 years old.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said these numbers were unacceptable.
“Our members will be working short in many hospitals this weekend as so many patient-facing roles remain vacant,” she said.
She pointed out St Patrick’s weekend was always a very busy weekend in hospitals.
“The INMO has made clear to HSE and Government the very real impacts the recruitment moratorium is having on our members and the patients they are trying their best to provide safe care to,” she said.
“They must now reverse their continued position that is leading to staff and patient safety being compromised.”
Mr Gloster defended the HSE’s plans for this weekend and said it is “inaccurate” to link the recruitment pause to the trolley crisis.
On Friday afternoon, he said derogation provision for recruitment to Emergency Departments and other essential services is in place meaning hiring can continue.
“We have never failed to recognise the challenges in a recruitment pause however it is being repeatedly reported out of context as to cause and effect in situations such as trolley pressures and this is not an accurate representation,” he said.
In January the equivalent of an additional 376 full-time nurses were hired, including 341 final year students or midwife interns, he added.
“It is a recognised standard that two pre-registration nurses is equivalent to one qualified WTE (whole-time equivalent) and even by that measure nursing has gone up substantially. Turnover in 2023 compared to 2022 is also improving,” he said.
Hospital and Community teams will continue working together over the weekend, the HSE said to keep patients moving through the system.
They will focus also on “timely discharge” for patients finished their care, with national and local management working in support of this.
“We acknowledge that patients presenting with non-urgent injuries may face longer waiting times, depending on the number of patients attending and the severity of patient illnesses,” a spokeswoman said.
The HSE urged patients in crisis to attend hospital EDs. Options for patients with non-life-threatening conditions include Injury Units, GP Out of Hours, GPs, and community pharmacies, she said.
The HSE data also shows 399 patients across most hospitals have finished their care but cannot be discharged due to a variety of reasons. This could include people waiting on a homecare package, or a nursing home bed, for example.
Mr Gloster has said if this number could be regularly reduced it would help address the trolley crisis as more beds would be available.
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