No bed for 10,000 hospital patients in June
JUST under 10,000 patients went without a bed in Irish hospitals during the month of June, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives TrolleyWatch.
With over 9,961 patients on trolleys - the worst June on record since the INMO began counting trolleys in 2006 - the INMO has called on the HSE to take urgent and direct intervention.
The figure for Mayo University Hospital was 333 patients on trolleys during the month - that's up from 247 for June 2021. It was the highest figure for June ever recorded at the hospital.
In 2019 the figure was 127, while 12 months earlier 13 patients were accommodated on trolleys.
The most overcrowded hospitals in the month of June included: University Hospital Limerick 1,829; Cork University Hospital 1,059 patients; University Hospital Galway 828; St. Vincent’s University Hospital 706; and Sligo University Hospital 612.
Following the publication of the TrolleyWatch figures, the INMO wants to see action from the HSE to take urgent and direct intervention including but not limited to:
Immediate cessation of the practice of 'Any patient, anywhere, any time’ as recommended by the 2020 Independent Review of Unscheduled Care Performance report.
Fully implement the HIQA recommendations in University Hospital Limerick.
Convene the Emergency Department Taskforce as a matter of urgency to ensure there is independent oversight in relation to the implementation of recommendations - practice of HSE acting without reference to trade unions and patient advocate groups must be reversed.
Reinstate on-site Covid testing for all patients upon arrival to Emergency Departments - screening pre-admission will reduce unnecessary and regular movement of patients once they become symptomatic.
Advise patients of the real likelihood of scheduled inpatient procedures being cancelled.
Take their responsibilities as an employer seriously and assess ventilation and air flow in all hospital buildings and put in place measures to ensure air flow meets the required safety levels.
Publish the numbers of healthcare workers getting infected with Covid at work - this practice concluded in December 2021 .
Advise government to re-introduce mask wearing in congregated public spaces.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “It has been a June like we have never seen in Irish hospitals with out-of-control hospital overcrowding coupled with rising Covid hospitalisations. In 16 years of counting trolleys, we've never seen June figures higher than the preceding January.
“Nurses are constantly raising the dangers associated with overcrowding in their workplaces, however the figures for the month of June are out of control and a stark warning of what is to come for the autumn and winter period, considering none of the mitigation measures necessary are being implemented.
“This level of overcrowding warrants senior HSE and government attention, it is not ok and it is not safe.”