By Emma Ryan
A HEALTHCARE union has issued a stark warning ahead of winter as almost 300 patients were on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital during July.
At Letterkenny University Hospital, 272 patients were on trolleys in July – that figure was down compared to last year when 360 patients were on trolleys.
As of Friday, 14 patients were on trolleys at LUH – which was a significant drop on previous days.
Nationally, 7,832 patients, including 138 children, went without a bed in Irish hospitals this July according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s (INMO) TrolleyWatch figures.
TrolleyWatch figures show 72,391 patients have gone without a bed in 2023, a 10 per cent increase in the same time period in 2022.
The INMO has warned the HSE must view this as an indication of what is now inevitable this winter and must act accordingly.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the fact that we have seen over 7,832 patients on trolleys in July is a red flag warning for the autumn and winter ahead.
She called for the HSE to set out very clear measures to reduce the levels of overcrowding in our hospitals in the coming months.
“It has been reported that the Cabinet has signed off on a year-round plan for the HSE, the INMO will be now seeking details of the staff support measures it contains as staff cannot be expected to just endure these conditions for another winter.
“Last week, HIQA published inspection reports into some of Ireland’s busiest hospitals,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.
“They show that there is a pattern emerging across the vast majority of hospitals that unsafe levels of staffing is compromising both patient and staff safety.
“Safe staffing underpinned by legislation must go hand-in-hand with any plan produced to tackle year-round overcrowding.
“As the HSE and individual hospital groups prepare for winter, infection control measures must be assessed ahead of predictable winter infection surges. We have already seen hospitals such as University Hospital Kerry review their mask-wearing and visitor policies because of infection outbreaks in July.
“A dynamic infection control plan is needed across all hospital sites as airborne viruses will no doubt play a major factor in hospital overcrowding in the months ahead.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)