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640 PATIENTS ARE being treated without beds in hospitals around the country today, according to the INMO, as the HSE warns the public to avoid emergency departments if possible due to overcrowding.
Hospitals experiencing the most pressure today Cork University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, Galway University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital, according to the HSE.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s trolley count put the number of patients being treated without a bed at 640 today, including 27 children.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that trolley numbers have been “very high over the last few days”.
Ní Sheaghda said that overcrowding records have been broken in Cork University Hospital (94 patients on trolleys today) and University Hospital Limerick (132 patients yesterday).
“This is leading to very dangerous situations for patients and nurses who are trying their best to provide safe care.”
The HSE issued a statement today to alert the public that several hospitals are reporting very high levels of activity this week driven by high rates of viruses like flu.
The health service said that at 8am this morning, there were 483 patients on trolleys – 366 in emergency departments and 117 on wards.
The latest data on flu cases suggest that influenza levels have peaked but it’s expected that high levels of demand on the health service from winter viruses will continue for the next several weeks.
The HSE is urging members of the public to consider other available care options, such injury units, GPs, and local pharmacies if they have a minor ailment.
HSE Chief Operations Officer Damien McCallion said there is “significant pressure on our EDs at the moment with increased presentations”.
“Whilst we ask the public to seek alternative services for non-urgent care, we want to reassure them that anyone who is seriously injured or ill, or worried their life may be at risk, should to go to the emergency department without delay,” McCallion said.
“By attending the GP, pharmacy or injury unit if you can, you will help alleviate pressure in the ED, which will help us get patients out of the ED and on to wards.”
He said that surge protocols, as part of the Urgent and Emergency Care plan, have been implemented as needed to reduce the number of patients waiting on trolleys for an acute bed and patients over the age of 75 waiting in emergency departments to be admitted for ongoing care and treatment.
“The HSE also appeals to the public to adhere to the public safety advice regarding the stormy weather and to avoid putting themselves in a position where they may have an accident or require emergency services.”
A Limerick city councillor has said his 87-year-old grandfather spent 100 hours on a trolley in University Hospital Limerick, describing the health service as being “on its knees”.
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Far left
@Seamus Balfe: That’s what we need more of.
They are having a slash against the wind
Far Left vs Far Right, Muslim population wanting their own laws, France is on the edge & will be the first European country to descend into chaos. Macron warning about Putin & the Far Right, when the fact is, he failed the French people in his terms of office & France has splintered since under his watch. Putin doesn’t have to consider invading Europe, as it will destroy itself from within, led by incompetent leaders like Macron. Amazing how the Far Left are seen as acceptable, even the French Communist party, considering the history of Communism & the massacres inflicted on people.
@SV3tN8M4: I see reactions from people who are unaware that policies on climate modelling or immigration are influenced by the academic community acting through social politics.
Left and right politics are governed by forces people do not sufficiently appreciate. Even though the combination of civil laws and laws of nature (Enlightenment) was meant to replace monarchies and church hierarchies, it was based on awful foundations in the late 17th century.
We inherit the worst and most unstable part of that subculture with many as victims.
A win of RN seems inevitable and that’s a good thing.
White flag
The new Netflix doc about the Nazi’s – ‘Evil on Trial’ is really good, even if you’ve seen a lot on the subject already. We can never have enough ‘timely reminders’ about what happened. Right now it really is timely. So many of the same things are being said, spouted and dispersed but on a much larger scale. The disinformation is turbo charged.
One of the main things that comes across is how much disbelief there is within the larger more apathetic populace. They assume there will be enough safeguards in place and that authoritarians aren’t fully serious when they clearly tell you what they are going to do if put in a position of power.
There’s lots of incredible footage that really drives home (once again) how easily people are caught up in frenzies, if it looks like a large enough crowd are behind a movement.
You can see the seeds being planted here with all of the obvious accounts that are there to pump one part of the Irish media with far right ideas on top of X/Twitter, Facebook and all the rest. There’s so many lies being told and as ever with the far right all your problems will allegedly be solved by getting rid of a certain group of people. As if. Simple ‘solutions’ for the simple minded. You might be annoyed about current problems in your society but far right is never ever the way to go.
@SerotoninWars: or have a look at the tattooist of austwhich
Good. Keep the demons out.
I for one think that The Judaen People’s Front are better than The People’s Front of Judea!
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