HSE apologises for ED wait times

THE HSE has apologised for any inconvenience caused to patients or their loved ones who are experiencing long waiting times at Wexford General Hospital.

In a response to a report in this newspaper about the number of people waiting on trolleys in the hospital in October and on November 16, this year, when the number was unusually high, the HSE’s Group Communica- tions Manager for the Ireland East Hospital Group, Caroline Kohn, said: ‘Wexford General Hospital Emergency Department has been very busy over the last month and the hospital has admitted a lot of seriously ill patients recently. We apologise for the distress or inconvenience caused to patients or their loved ones who are experiencing long wait times [and] we are committed to treating everyone who presents at our ED - but we do so strictly in order of medical priority.’

Ms Kohn said the full capacity protocol was implemented in the hospital and additional consultant ward rounds have been arranged to facilitate discharges.

‘We are working with the community to discharge appropriate patients to community units if possible and as appropriate,’ said Ms Kohn.

‘We continue to ask people to think about all their care and treatment options [and] the length of time you may be waiting in ED should you not require urgent care,’ she added.

Ms Kohn also said the HSE is asking people to keep ED services for the patients who need them most.

‘For example, a less serious illness may be treated by a GP or referred by a GP to the Hospital if hospital treatment is required,’ she said.

‘However, if you are seriously injured or ill the ED will assess and treat you as a priority.