27 Patients on trolleys in emergency department
NURSES have warned that the emergency department in the Limerick Regional Hospital is on the point of imploding after a nationwide high for numbers on trolleys was recorded this week. An HSE spokesman issued a plea for people to go to their GP’s if at all possible, as the number of patients on trolleys reached crisis point, with every possible space occupied.
To add to the problems of trying to cope with mounting admissions, the hospital was battling an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
On Monday, there were 27 patients on trolleys in the emergency Department, waiting for beds. This was the highest number for any hospital in the country, including Dublin.
In a statement the HSE said: “The Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick, is experiencing a significant increase in Emergency Department attendances with increased inpatient admissions. As a result, all inpatient capacity is under great demand and this is aggravated by the presence of winter vomiting bug”.
When contacted by the Limerick Post, Irish Nurses and Midwives (INMO) representative in Limerick, Mary Fogarty, said:
“It’s chaotic in there. The system is just not working. Staff are doing all they can but every available place is being utilised to fit people in. There is a huge issue with capacity at the Regional Hospital”.
Ms Fogarty pointed out that in the Teamwork report, which formed the basis for what was to be a complete revamp of delivery of hospital care in the region, it was recommended that the Regional would need an additional 135 beds.
“They have taken over the Acute Medical Assessment Unit and every other possible space to accommodate those who are coming in through the ED.
“This is not some outbreak of something that is felling people - this is the system not working. You can’t take 50 per cent of the acute beds out of Ennis and Nenagh without putting additional beds in Limerick, which is where ill people from Clare and Nenagh have to go”.