‘Shock’ over waiting lists at hospital

Fianna Fáil Cllr Emma Coffey says she is shocked and appalled that so far this year 368 people aged over 75 have experienced a waiting time of more than 24 hours in the Emergency Department in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2017 set a target that all attendees aged 75 years and over at A&E Departments would be discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. So far this year some 5,880 people aged over 75 have experienced a wait time of more than 24 hours in an Emergency Department nationally.

Councillor Coffey stated: It is quite clear from these figures that The Government and the HSE are falling way short of what is required to provide a decent health service. It’s not acceptable that so many older and more vulnerable people should have to endure such long waits in Emergency Departments. “The fact remains that the acute hospital budget is completely inadequate to meet patient demand. “If such issues are not immediately addressed, come the winter time it is quite clear that these waiting time figures for people over 75 will double before the end of the year.”