‘Shocking’ trolley figures indicate difficult Winter ahead in Sligo University Hospital
SINN Féin MEP Chris MacManus has issued a warning that the number of patients on trolleys in Sligo University Hospital – reported yesterday by the INMO as standing at over 30 – indicated that an extremely difficult period lies ahead for workers and patients in the hospital. MacManus said that Government has failed to deliver enough hospital capacity over the last three years and that the Government’s decision to underfund the health service in the Budget this year has left local hospitals without the beds they need and constrained by a recruitment embargo.
The Midlands Northwest MEP said: “The INMO count of 34 patients inappropriately admitted to hospital without a bed yesterday in Sligo University Hospital is a stark warning of an extremely difficult Winter ahead. The Sligo trolley figure is amongst the highest in the country. “Workers and patients in Sligo Hospital will face into a severely overcrowded hospital, which will have no choice but to cancel planned appointments and surgeries to cope with surging winter demand.
“This situation was avoidable. The Minister announced 1,200 new beds three years ago, and 200 of them have yet to be delivered.
“He has recently announced 1,500 new beds on a number of occasions, but secured no funding for them in the Budget just gone.
“The government knows that these beds are needed, and needed urgently. “They must be delivered quickly. But now we have a plan for new beds with no funding.
“People in Sligo are being badly let down by the Government’s mismanagement of health. “Delivery of the muchneeded elective centres is far behind schedule. Urgently needed surgical hubs won’t be delivered until late next year. “Hospital managers here will be left to make best use of what they have, without the necessary supports in GP and primary care to see more patients in the community.”