Number of patients on hospital trolleys hits RECORD high

[Newsy]

A record 500 patients were treated on trolleys in hospitals today – higher than the 2006 beds crisis which Health Minister Mary Harney branded “a national emergency”.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) claimed A&E units have reached breaking point with corridors crammed with the sick and injured.

Dave Hughes, INMO deputy general secretary, called on the Government to take action before the situation worsens.....

“The combination of the worst weather conditions experienced in Ireland for over 40 years, the unprecedented public finance crisis, the legacy of delayed discharge of patients and the shortage of medical doctors, are all conspiring to worsen what unfortunately has become a regular feature of over-crowing in emergency departments,” he said.

The INMO claimed 896 beds have been closed by the HSE since January 2009.


Read more: Number of patients on hospital trolleys hits record high | BreakingNews.ie


What is going to be the consequence of this awful situation??? It is going to be the death of people.....could be your sister, my sister......brother......mother......father.....pa rtner......child.

It is going to result in people dying, because they aren't getting the care that they need. But even DEATH doesn't wake-up this Minister for Health, this Government or this country.

What will it take, if people dying, doesn't do it????

[nonpartyboy]

It was a "national emergency" back then because there was plenty of money in the kitty and harney wanted to get her grubby paws on it, now there's no money left to funnel to private healthcare they don't want to know. Private healthcare will be more crucial for fast access as this recession continues, no doubt our politicans will still get the front of the queue in the mater and blackrock clinics.

[hammer]

Lets be truly honest on this. We see statistics like this every month. It IS a scandal. Tomorrow it is replaced by new news and it is quickly forgotten.

The Minister of Wealth obviously doesn`t give a damn.

The nurses should strike on this matter alone rather than on wage cuts or longer hours or pension levies.

[The Caped Cod]

Lets be truly honest on this. We see statistics like this every month. It IS a scandal. Tomorrow it is replaced by new news and it is quickly forgotten.

The Minister of Wealth obviously doesn`t give a damn.

The nurses should strike on this matter alone rather than on wage cuts or longer hours or pension levies.

If the public could manifest it's absolute disgust at the situation nurses wouldn't have to strike about it. But hey, the bank needs the money more.

[Boggle]

If the public could manifest it's absolute disgust at the situation nurses wouldn't have to strike about it. But hey, the bank needs the money more.

Indeed. However this is something the nurses SHOULD strike about as I have seen first hand the effects that understaffing and poor structuring has on nurses mental health.

Of course mental health cannot pay the mortgage but striking for pay comes across as greed - especially when the this enhanced pay comes at the expense of the sick. (Maybe they should ban foreclosures on homes or at least do something to ensure that people who are struggling are helped through state intervention - wait for the foreclosures which will come with the next interest rate rise cos it could be tragic)

[toughbutfair]

NO more money should be spent on it.

If they can improve efficency then great, if not, so be it.

[charley]

they have the money, they have the staff ,they all the skills except management .the dissmissal of all clerical and administration staff to be replaced by private management contractors who can be replaced if targets are not met is the best way forward

[Boggle]

they have the money, they have the staff ,they all the skills except management .the dissmissal of all clerical and administration staff to be replaced by private management contractors who can be replaced if targets are not met is the best way forward

Or maybe a system whereby incompetence was rewarded with expulsion rather than promotion?

Take the cancer vaccines as a case in point - whoever negotiated the first price should be taken out back and shot. If you were to go through everything in the health service, I bet that you could source almost everything at comparable discounts.If medical companies are playing hardball, play hardball back and use the EU to negotiate fixed prices for all drugs throughout the EU market based on EU volumes. Simple really but it means putting people, not business first.

[charley]

the doctors get sweeteners from the drug companies to push their wares this must be curtailed

[hammer]

Conferences in 5* Hotels, free golf in the K Club, free golf bags, putters etc.................

What a life