‘Mallow Hospital could help ease beds crisis’
HEALTH minister Simon Harris has been urged to examine the possibility of opening up beds at Mallow Hospital in a bid to address the chronic overcrowding at Cork’s major hospitals.
The call has come from Deputy Michael Moynihan amid record-breaking numbers awaiting treatment on hospital trolleys in recent weeks. This included a combined total of 61 patients at the Cork University and Mercy University Hospitals.
He said “not a day goes by” when he is not contacted by families concerned that their loved ones are unable to access the health services they need in the Cork area.
“The situation has gotten progressively worse over recent years as more and more people are being left to languish on hospital trolleys or chairs for days on end. This is no way to treat sick patients,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“We need to think outside the box when it comes to addressing the huge challenges in our health service. There are skilled staff and available theatres in Mallow General Hospital that could be used to ensure patients have speedy access to treatment,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“Given the chaos being experienced in Cork’s two main hospitals it seems absurd that not all beds are being utilised.
“Minister Harris cannot lecture about addressing bed capacity while beds remain closed in our hospitals.”
THE Minister for Health, Simon Harris, has been urged to examine the possibility of opening up beds at Mallow Hospital in a bid to address the chronic overcrowding at Cork’s major hospitals.
The call has come from Cork North West Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan, after figures from the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation (INMO) showed that a record-breaking 714 people were awaiting treatment on hospital trolleys across the country last Monday week.
This included a combined total of 61 patients at the Cork University and Mercy University Hospitals.
While numbers have dropped this week, INMO figures showed that as of Wednesday there were still some 485 people (including 48 at the two Cork hospitals) on trolleys awaiting to be allocated a hospital bed.
Deputy Moynihan called on Minister Harris to urgently look into the possibility of using empty beds at Mallow Hospital to ease the “overcrowding crisis” in Cork.
He said “not a day goes by” when he is not contacted by families concerned that their loved ones are unable to access the health services they need in the Cork area.
“The situation has gotten progressively worse over recent years as more and more people are being left to languish on hospital trolleys or chairs for days on end. This is no way to treat sick patients,” said Deputy Moynihan.
He went on to point out that the overcrowding at Cork’s hospitals was having a knockon effect on other elements of the health service, in particular the cancellation of elective procedures.
“This in itself creates further problems as waiting list are growing and people are not being treated as quickly as they should be,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“I have people coming into my office who have been diagnosed with cancer or other illnesses and who are extremely distressed after having their operations cancelled.”
Deputy Moynihan said it seemed “nonsensical” that at a time when additional capacity was desperately needed, beds at Mallow Hospital and other hospitals around the county were not being used to help alleviate the pressure.
“We need to think outside the box when it comes to addressing the huge challenges in our health service. There are skilled staff and available theatres in Mallow General Hospital that could be used to ensure patients have speedy access to treatment,” said Deputy Moynihan.
“Given the chaos being experienced in Cork’s two main hospitals it seems absurd that not all beds are being utilised. Minister Harris cannot lecture about addressing bed capacity while beds remain closed in our hospitals. I am calling on him to examine whether these beds could be used to increase capacity as a matter of urgency.”