‘Nightmare conditions’ at hospital condemned

June 1999

‘NIGHTMARE conditions’ at Wicklow’s local accident and emergency hospital were the target of a blistering attack at the annual meeting of the Bray and District Trades Council last week.

Delegates slammed conditions at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown, and said that despite a booming economy, the Government had failed to tackle even basic issues.

SIPTU delegate Charles Kavanagh said that he recently went to hospital and found one junior nurse looking after two wards.

He claimed that patients were to be found lying on mattresses in a corridor, while no less than three of the hospital wards were closed.

Responding to the criticisms this week, an Eastern Health Board spokesperson said that an ongoing programme of upgrading had been carried out at the hospital, including the extension of the radiology department to accommodate a new cat scanner, the replacement of windows.

Other upgrading works include the refurbishment of St Anne’s Ward, the replacement of the heating system, and the installation of network communications.

He said that the St Agnes’ paediatric ward had been closed for refurbishment and upgrading and difficulties in recruiting staff had delayed its reopening.