by Kathy Masterson
THE number of patients waiting on trolleys in the emergency department and on wards in University Hospital Limerick rose by 80 per cent in June of this year, according to figures just released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
In June 2014, a total of 363 patients at UHL found themselves on trolleys awaiting a bed, however last month, the figure shot up to 653.
The figures have been rising steadily during the last decade, as the INMO revealed that just 88 patients spent time on trolleys at the hospital in June 2006, and just 12 in June 2007.
The survey showed that UHL had the fourth highest increase in the level of overcrowding in the country, following St Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin (332 per cent); University Hospital Waterford (178 per cent) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin (150 per cent).
Limerick Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins says he is seriously concerned about the risks posed to patients at UHL if the overcrowding crisis continues.
He warned: “The situation at the emergency department at UHL is serious. But we are only at the halfway point in the year and in the budget. How much more serious will things look if the government does not get its act together? A winter month with budgets under strain and increased admissions at the emergency department could push the health service to breaking point.
“I have no doubt that our healthcare professionals are providing the best possible care to patients but the conditions and stress that they are being put under by failed policies are really intolerable.”
Nationally, 7,775 patients waited on trolleys in June of this year, which the INMO says is the worst June figure since it started Trolley Watch more than 12 years ago.
A statement released by the union said: “The INMO believes that these figures confirm that the actions, put forward by the Emergency Department Taskforce in April, have not to date, had any impact, and much more investment by government is required to address this growing crisis.”
INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: “The level of deterioration, and the resulting compromising of patient care and excessive workloads on nursing staff contained in these figures, is truly shocking.
“It must now be recognised, and acknowledged, that what has been done to date, however desirable and well intentioned, has failed to address the problem which continues to grow. In order to address this crisis, ahead of the winter period, the government must allocate emergency funding which must be ongoing.
“This must allow for the additional bed capacity, and staff required to care for admitted patients, in a safe and dignified way, as the current situation is deplorable and cannot continue.”
Meanwhile, surgery waiting list figures for the end of June released this week by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), show that 2,193 patients were waiting more than a year to see a specialist at UHL.
Nationally, the number of patients on waiting lists for more than 12 months was 70,564.
The Department of Health says only a small minority, 1,988, are still waiting longer than 18 months for an appointment.
