CUH sets new record for numbers waiting on trolleys
Cork University Hospital has set a record for the number of admitted patients on trolleys with 74 waiting, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
There were 62 admitted patients waiting in the hospital's emergency department and a further 12 on wards.
The INMO's industrial relations officer in Cork, Liam Conway, said patients in CUH were being treated in corridors, waiting areas and other inappropriate places.
“All of those patients are being put at risk, and our members are once again being asked to simply fill in the gaps left by short staffing and inadequate planning,” said Mr Conway.
“There is a desperate need for greater capacity in acute facilities and in the community to make the health service safe for patients and staff. There should be no bureaucratic obstacles to safe staffing," he said.
CUH said the hospital was experiencing “significant overcrowding" and urged people to only attend the hospital if there is a genuine emergency.
Where possible people should consult their GP, Southdoc out-of-hours service or local injury unit.
“We are asking people to think about all their care and treatment options and keep our ED services for patients who need them most,” the hospital stated.
The hospital's ED has been coming under continuing pressure with high numbers presenting with a variety of complex needs.
CUH said the ED would assess and prioritise anyone who was seriously injured or ill or concerned that their life might be at risk.
“Staff and management are working to prioritise the discharge of patients as soon as possible where appropriate,” it added.
The HSE's TrolleyGAR that only counts patients waiting on trolleys in EDs also had CUH with the highest number of patients waiting, at 55, with 35 waiting more than nine hours and 16 waiting more than 24 hours.
There were 578 admitted patients waiting for beds across the country on today, according to the INMO's Trolley Watch.
Of those waiting, 378 were in EDs and 174 were in wards.
Among the worst-hit hospitals were university Hospital Limerick with 57 patients waiting and South Tipperary General Hospital that had 42.
According to the HSE, there were 419 patients waiting in EDs, with 236 waiting over nine hours and 92 waiting more than 24 hours.
The number of trolley waiters has increased by 12% compared to the same day last year when there were 373, with 177 waiting over nine hours.
