Trolley shame... worst year ever
Scandal of 108,000 patients waiting for beds
MORE than 108,000 patients were left languishing on trolleys and chairs while waiting for a hospital bed in 2018 – making it the worst year on record.
The Irish Nurses And Midwives Organisation confirmed the shocking total of 108,227 – a 9% rise on the 2017 figure which was also a new high.
The busiest months were January, when the number waiting was 12,201, and February at 10,772.
The worst-hit hospitals included:
■ Limerick University – 11,437
■ Cork University – 9,135
■ Galway University – 7,452
■ Midlands, Tullamore – 5,831, and
■ Tallaght University, Dublin – 5,432. The INMO blamed much of the overcrowding on low capacity and understaffing.
The union claimed it had continuously urged the Government to work with it to help resolve the crisis.
However, officials said this has not happened and 95% of nurses and midwives have now voted in favour of industrial action with the INMO executive set to meet next week to set dates for strikes.
The organisation’s general secre- tary Phil Ni Sheaghdha added: “Despite the Government spin, 2018 was the worst year on record for overcrowding.
“Negative records were set throughout the year, with over 100,000 admitted patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs without a proper bed. We know this dramatically worsens outcomes for patients.
“The health service does not have enough beds to support our population. More beds mean more nurses, but the HSE simply can’t hire enough on these wages.
“It’s beyond time for the Government to engage proactively with the INMO to resolve the crisis in Irish nursing and midwifery.
“Patients should be focused on recovering, but instead have to worry about waiting times, understaffing and a lack of beds. 2019 must see real changes in policy and funding to resolve this once and for all.”
Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan described the IMNO figures as an “utter disgrace”.
He added: “Whilst the figures were expected to be high, they are still truly startling.
“This is a national scandal. It is both not acceptable and disgraceful. These are people we know, often family members and many of them elderly, often on trolleys for hours.
“There are many solutions ranging from ensuring increased investment for transitional care beds, adequate step-down facilities, home care packages and home help hours to ensure patients can be moved home or to a more appropriate care setting.”
NO Health Minister has ever been able to solve our horrendous health crisis – and it has progressively gotten worse.
Leo Varadkar, a qualified doctor, couldn’t make a tangible difference and Simon Harris has quite rightly been criticised too.
It is shocking 108,000 patients were left on trolleys and chairs while waiting for a bed last year and spending overran by more than €1.1billion.
Meanwhile, many of our most talented young nurses are choosing to work abroad.
The Government needs to address the trolley crisis and reward health workers properly.