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EIGHT IN TEN nurses have said patients are being treated in inappropriate settings such as hospital corridors, according to a new survey by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The INMO said it conducted its ‘Behind the Trolley Numbers’ survey between 19 and 31 January.
It said 1,587 respondents completed the survey, the vast majority of whom work in adult acute healthcare settings (87%).
The INMO said results indicate 84% of nurses have cared for patients in inappropriate settings in the last year, such as emergency department corridors and waiting rooms.
Of those respondents, 85% said patient care and safety were compromised in these settings.
It comes after the union said 13,972 patients were treated in hospitals without beds in January, making it the worst month ever since the union began tracking trolley numbers.
The survey also found that 64% said that delivering care in inappropriate settings was a daily occurrence and 22% said it occurred weekly. A further 71% said patients often remain in these areas for more than 12 hours.
Some 72% of respondents said they had seen patient safety incidents directly related to inappropriate care settings, such as falls, medication and treatment delays. Respondents highlighted those patients endured a complete lack of privacy and dignity while being treated on a trolley.
The vast majority said increasing bed capacity and recruiting more nursing staff were key to addressing overcrowding in hospitals.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that many of their members are afraid of reporting unsafe conditions to management which creates “a culture of silence”.
She said nurses have said there are “huge ethical concerns” with placing patients in inappropriate settings such as window bays and waiting rooms.
“Patients with infectious diseases, dementia, or mental health conditions are being placed in inappropriate settings, increasing risks for both staff and other patients,” she said.
“The vast majority of our members who reported working in overcrowded settings have told us that their workload has increased and their stress levels are on the rise.
“Along with this, they’re telling us that the situation is leading to a lower quality of patient care.
“This situation is avoidable, but it has been allowed to worsen year and year at the expense of the health and safety of staff and patients alike.
“This is simply inexcusable. Nurses have voiced serious apprehensions about the suitability of some patient care areas, yet these warnings continue to be disregarded by the Health Service Executive.”
She added: “The new government has an opportunity to turn this situation around with a radical plan to staff hospitals, introduce plans to retain existing staff and increase capacity across acute and community services over the coming year, including the fast-tracking of elective-only hospitals.
“Anything short of this will continue to put lives in danger.”
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This is only the tip of the iceberg to the abuse the Iranian people suffer under the Islamic regime especially women and minority groups! Hopefully one day this nation will be free from the terror of their government. Rest in peace Mahsa Amini.
The wonderful Iranian people have been living with this insanity since 1979.We have neighbours who fled Iran at that time ,they were given the choice or conversion to Islam or a bullet in the head .
Remember that time the Bankers were pissed off with an Iranian leader who nationalised Iranian Oil for the benefit of Iranian people, that was weird…… I wonder how that went?
It’s almost as weird as the way thejournal.ie and the AFP are brilliant at reporting on public protest against governments who do not comply with Bankers policy agendas, in resource rich far flung nations…… But these “NEWS” outlets seem to struggle to notice or report on widescale public protests against the harmful effects of Bankers monopolistic policies (SDGs, ESG, UN Agenda 2030 etc.), when they take place in Germany, France, Italy and Netherlands.
@Special_Ed: Your comparing marbles and rocket ships. Ridiculous comment
Power to the women there. RIP to the victims.
Religion poisons everything.
@Allora: extremist religion poisons everything
@Melissa OHara: no. All religion.
@Dearbhla O Reilly: this is incorrect. Here’sone example as to why you are wrong:
Those who practice the catholic religion today are mostly respectful and decent people. Their religion is a guide for how they can live their life in a positive and loving way. I know this as an atheist who’s parents are dead sound and I’ve done ok for myself.
@Paolo Fandango: I should have added ‘who’s parents are catholic and dead sound’
@Paolo Fandango: thats not an example. That’s an opinion. Amazing how mamy believers of Religious doctrine seem to have difficulty separating things like belief, opinion, example, fact.
@Paolo Fandango: ye taking the p I s s or wha?
@Allora: Religion poisons everything.
@Paolo Fandango: most people who practice most religions are mostly respectful and decent people, it is not just a catholic trait. In fact most religions teach the common theme of loving thy neighbour as thyself or doing to others as they would wish do to themselves and, ironically, you could be practicing the basic teaching of many religions and not just one. It is the few individuals, whether it be priests or nuns or fanatics, that destroy the reputation of all religions yet we may practice the fundamental teachings without being in the institution.
So awful in this day and age.. Between this diabolical situation and the Russian war and climate change Humanity is at a cross roads.. May we all do the right thing..
That title is such poor English
@Fintan O’Halloran: I don’t follow you ?
@Gerry Campbell: Would you following follow him though?
Someone will be along in minute to blame the US for this.
@John Black: Now that you mention it..
https://www.npr.org/2019/01/31/690363402/how-the-cia-overthrew-irans-democracy-in-four-days
Imagine they had a morality police here lol
dear john black as an Iranian we believe American and democrats and ayatollah BBC are to blame .back in 1979 and even before that .they help current regime to come to the power and since they have taking advantage of every country in middle east because of their created regime as an enemy,and they don’t care about democracy and close their eyes to what’s happening in Iran now .
Almost 70 years ago Billy.
@John Black: The effects of which are still being felt today.
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