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THIS YEAR HAS seen the highest number of patients on trolleys in any year since records began, according to a leading nursing union.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said today that 108,364 people have gone without beds in 2019 so far – breaking 2018’s record high of 108,227, with a full month left to go in the year.
The union has written to the Health and Safety Authority and the Health Information and Quality Authority, seeking their intervention as it warns services have reached breaking point, invoking health and safety laws for staff.
The trolley figures count patients who are admitted to hospital but do not have a bed.
They are typically left on trolleys lined up in corridors or on chairs.
The INMO, which staged a historic strike this year in a row over pay and conditions, is calling for extra staffing and an increase in hospital, home care, and community capacity to deal with the problem.
The union said that in 2019 so far, the worst-affected hospitals are:
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that as winter has only just begun and the record has already been broken, she forecasts serious issues looking into December.
She said: “These statistics are the hallmark of a wildly bureaucratic health service which is failing staff and patients alike.
“We take no pleasure in having to record these figures for a decade-and-a-half.
“We know the problem, but we also know the solutions: extra beds in hospitals, safe staffing levels, and more step-down and community care outside of the hospital.
Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation / Twitter568 people waiting for beds on trolleys around Irish hospitals this morning.
— Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) November 28, 2019
The highest trolley figures today are in:
UH #Limerick – 57 people#Cork UH– 54 people#Mater MUH – 41 people
UH #Galway - 39 people
For the full data see https://t.co/QpFoi5Y62G pic.twitter.com/VX7BkXAUyZ
“Five years ago, hospitals like Beaumont consistently faced the most extreme overcrowding problems in the country.
“They reduced that problem by adding beds and growing community care. Other services can do the same and must be allowed to do so.
“No other developed country faces anything close to this trolley problem. It can be solved, but a strong political agenda to drive change is needed
“The INMO has written to the health and safety authorities this week to try and force a change from the employers.
“Hospitals should be a place of safety and care – not danger.”
Trolley numbers this month were the highest of any November on record, the union said, and the fifth consecutive month to exceed records for previous years.
There were 522 people on trolleys across Ireland on Friday.
Trolley numbers and overcrowding issues in hospitals have been a headache for the Government for some time, with many calling for a complete overhaul of how the Department of Health tackles the issue.
One of the Government’s own TDs, Fine Gael’s Kate O’Connell, admitted in a recent committee that she was “embarrassed” at the “shocking” conditions of the emergency department at Crumlin Children’s Hospital as she waited for her child to be treated last Sunday.
“I was actually embarrassed as a TD to be there and I was afraid someone would recognise me, trying to keep undercover,” she said.
The Health Service Executive has been contacted for comment.
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But the broadband will be great
@Simon Gregory: Don’t worry FFG are covering the impending short tax take with taxes from property sales when the corporation taxes dry up…..love it and all you fools out there voting for FFG will get another wakeup for the 4th time…..its called bankruptcy and we will deserve every drop of it……I have seen chimps with more logical thinking then the Irish voter.
@Simon Gregory: It’s the same thing every year, trolley figures, homeless figures, each year worse than the last. Either the government are going to place our citizens and their health as a priority or they’re not. It’s that simple. So far I see no evidence that they are, and that’s the disgrace.
Ah great news FFG are doing great, breaking records year on year, can’t wait for the GE to vote them back in, great new billion euro hospital, going to get great broadband for billions, now have IW for billions, oh an a new printer for roundabout cost of 1.8m which will probably cost more, would be very disappointed if it didn’t, so come on all let’s vote them back in, NOT
There’s no doubt our public hospitals are being run down to frighten people into the private helth businesses
Our public health service is inhumane, third world quality.
Here’s something to digest. I was watching a reality show with the missus recently, and a couple who lived in South Africa had to give birth in a public hospital. The show made a point to highlight how dirty and inefficient public hospitals were in SA warned against it.
They went to the hospital, it was cleaner, fresher and overall looked safer than any public Irish hospital I’ve been to.
That’s what our taxes pay for. Sub standard sub third world health care.
Thanks lads
@Commonfeckingsense: To suggest the healthcare system in Ireland is of „third world“ standards is utterly ridiculous. It has many issues but far more is right than wrong. Stick to reality television.
And we keep voting FFG …
@Willy Mc Bride: whom should we vote for?
The left? No, thanks.
@Chin Feeyin: how about basing it on previous experience. If you want more of the existing record breaking, do the same. Only the self serving, morally inept will keep doing so.
@Chin Feeyin: people like you are the problem.
@Chin Feeyin: was it the left that made this mess?/was it the left that enslaved the country with €65billion of debts to bail out criminal bankers? Nope.
@Chin Feeyin: I’m alright Jack.
@FecklessBear: Well said
@Shazam37: I pay enough tax. I don’t want to pay any more.
@Chin Feeyin: who does? No one. “I’m alright Jack” – because you’re not homeless you don’t care. The very definition of self interest.
Of course the parties who brankrupted us and caused all this miser are the ones you vote for.
I do have to laugh at the attitude that complains about the high taxes the parties you vote for charge you for nothing at all – dreadful services and infrastructure – while you complain about higher taxes and working services.
In other words you’d rather set fire to a grand than spend two and have what you bought actually work.
@Shazam37: I have no confidence the Marxists and Trotskyites would do a better job.
@Chin Feeyin:
Indeed. I’m so delighted you have a vote. You’re intelligent and wise and here are my house and car keys.
@Chin Feeyin: pffft. Silly childish stuff. You don’t need “confidence”. You have actually PROOF the current lot are hopeless. Yet you stick with them anyway. And then use childish names like Marxists and Trotskyites as if the social democrats or the greens are that far left.
It has nothing to do with competence. You’re a right wing “I’m alright Jack”. You don’t care about anyone else and are quite content with things as they are.
I don’t see why you don’t just admit it. Hardest part of being a right wing neoliberal is the shame of admitting your that selfish I suppose.
“I will end the scandal of patients waiting on trollies”
Enda Kenny, a few years back before General election
As soon as he got FG into power then, his first action was to close down Roscommon hospital
Anyone reading this that keeps voting FFG, give yourself a big pat on the back. Well done to you. Keep endorsing the people that is destroying the country and destroying your kids futures
@@at: Is Kenny still receiving a salary and not attending the Dáil I wonder.
@Logan Shepherd: Yes and Yes
Let’s keep the recovery going…
The reality is that these figures are wrong as they do not include the thousands of people who attend A&E and who are never seen and then leave after eight hours or so. This country is a disgrace how it treats the sick and infirm.
@Brian Hayes: In all fairness, if someone leaves hospital after eight hours would they have needed a bed in the first place?
No nó this is lies, ask Simon
Ireland, where there is zero accountability for being a failure at your job.
I don’t believe INMO figures, I will wait till Simon and Leo tell me the real number.
That printer was a lovely distraction. Perfect timing
Those on here giving out that we keep voting them in will you give us your alternative. If your suggesting we vote for Sin Fein… no thanks. Their local candidate canvassed my house the other night. He was polite and well versed but the crowd he had with him on the night looked like a gang of hooligans. Again no thanks.
@Giller: and again Giller – I’m alright Jack. There’s also the Social Democrats running a large number of candidates, the Greens running lots of candidates, even Labour.
The idea that “there is no alternative” is pedalled by people who’re content with the current situation. Not on trollies. Happily ensconced in homes.
You say “who else is there” as though you’re dissatisfied with the current situation but see no alternative. In reality you’re quite happy with the current situation – the awful side of it doesnt affect you.
@Giller: ill be voting SF, FFG have and are failing the majority of citizens in this country, scandal after scandal. Any renter’s or paye workers voting for FFG, God help your foolish wit.
@Shazam37: You seem to think that if a new gov were brought in – say SF – then suddenly the hospitals and health system would get better. I’d say the opposite is true, it would likely get much worse. After all its much easier to make things fail tham it is to make things work. There is a political consenus now to double down on the same failed system – slaintecare, the all party health reform idea, is a clear example of that and it will make the system worse.
Crisis….i think this is something like the 11th year in a row we are trying to manage a trolley ‘Crisis’….how can a so called modern progressive country not address a ‘Crisis’ with solutions that actually address the problem…the hot air from political parties of all shades on this subject should not be acceptable by the Irish people – we spend Billions on health , we are taxed up the wazoo – we are constantly told -it isn’t money alone that will solve the problem ??? What is it ? Who is accountable to try address the crisis ?? We will an emergency task force sitting around the table as soon there is a weather warning ? Thousands of new ‘Health management’ positions filled at generous salaries in last 5 years and on and on and on it goes – a crisis ? Do any of the adults in power even understand the definition of a crisis ??? Complete reform of public sector to make fit for purpose required in this country.
Why is it FFG who continually are elected every go campaign on phrases like how they will fix things like healthcare and housing as opposed to campaigning on their accomplishments? It’s because neither party has ever fixed anything and their policies make it worse for everyone but themselves. Their track record proves this.
“never again” would we see 569 patients on trolleys”.
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