Trolley shortages see ambulances delayed for up to four hours at hospitals
Ambulance crews faced delays of 'a couple of hours' at UHL on Monday, while those in Drogheda waited 'just under four hours'. File Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
Ambulances are facing delays of up to four hours at hospitals due to trolley shortages as pressures mount from high flu numbers and severe weather, paramedics have warned.
The delays mean crews are stuck at the hospitals waiting for their patient to get a trolley before they can go back out on the road and answer the next call, a Siptu official said.
There were 700 patients admitted to hospitals but unable to get a bed on Tuesday, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The HSE’s data showed 101 people had been waiting for 24 hours, including eight people aged over 75.
John McCamley, Siptu sector organiser, said University Hospital Limerick and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda are the worst affected sites. Letterkenny Hospital is also witnessing delays.
Crews faced delays of “a couple of hours” at UHL on Monday, while those in Drogheda waited “just under four hours”, he said.
“The problem is when they are out of service, essentially, they can’t respond to emergency calls elsewhere,” he said.
He added: “They don’t have enough trolleys in the hospitals. When the ambulance crew arrives at a hospital, they have to wait on a trolley for that patient.”
The paramedics cannot leave a patient until they under the care of hospital staff, nor can they leave an ambulance trolley in the ED, he explained.
“This has become common for January, it is now the norm,” he warned, regarding the overcrowding.
Meanwhile, as the impact of the snow and ice continues, there will be further disruption to healthcare across Munster.
This follows Met Éireann issuing additional weather warnings including an updated status orange low temperature/ice warning.
Banty and Mallow hospitals are postponing non-urgent HSE appointments on Wednesday. This includes outpatient appointments.
Appointments at community facilities in North Cork will also be affected on Wednesday. While appointments are going ahead at Cork hospitals including the Cork University Maternity Hospital, the HSE advised patients to only travel when safe to do so.
Dr Andy Phillips, regional executive officer for Cork/Kerry, said they are “very grateful” for help from the Defence Forces, voluntary emergency services, and community groups.
Patients and staff have been transported by various methods, including tractors.
Maria Bridgeman, integrated healthcare area manager, Limerick City and North Tipperary, HSE Mid West, urged caution — especially for older people.
“We are urging members of the public to keep warm, eat well, and avoid unnecessary travel over the coming days,” she said.
“This is especially important in more remote areas where the snow and ice has resulted in extremely hazardous travelling conditions.”
Disruptions are expected to continue for the remainder of this week due to the hazardous travelling conditions.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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