Staff highlight ‘Third World service’ at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital amid call for more resources

Louth TDs and local councillors gathered at the gates of the Drogheda hospital at lunchtime to voice their concerns at the pressure the staff are under, and some staff members explained the dire situation inside the walls of the facility.

“People are just tired and wrecked after everything we’ve come through for the last couple of years; there’s been no downtime,” said one staff member, who did not want to be identified. “And now to be putting extra work, well, we haven’t the staff to do the work we have at the minute, so I don’t know how they can put extra work on top of it.”

The plan to divert serious emergency cases from Our Lady’s hospital in Navan to Drogheda was due to start on Monday, however that has been put on hold in the interim, until possibly Wednesday.

Staff say they are not opposed to that plan, however it can’t proceed without many extra resources. “We’re not saying not to move in this direction, but to put the resources in, to put the staff in and do it properly,” said another staff member.

Speaking on behalf of FORSA trade union, Barbara Kelly outlined the current staffing challenges.

“We’ve got 60 health and social care professionals vacancy deficits as it is, never mind bringing Navan on board, and there are 15 to 20 current deficits in clerical and about seven in ED alone, so there’s time where there are only two on to cover the whole night shift,” she explained. “They can’t go on breaks, for food or to go to the toilet, so at this stage it’s like a Third World service we’re providing.”

The extreme pressure the Drogheda hospital is under was highlighted with the sight of 11 ambulances unable to offload their casualties last week, and the fear is that this is a taste of what is to come down the line.

“It was a perfect storm that night; it was the busiest day ever for ED, but it just shows what could happen further down the line if resources aren’t improved,” said a staff member. “I also don’t think it is true about children being asked to sleep in cars, and no one was treated in an ambulance, so we have to be careful of social media stories.”

The number of patients on trolleys waiting to be treated in Drogheda A&E has doubled in recent days, from the average of seven to 14.

The rally was organised by "Safeguard Drogheda A&E Campaign", led by Michael O’Dowd.

He was joined by several public representatives, including Mayor of Drogheda Michelle Hall, who took to the microphone to add their support and condemn HSE and Ministerial decisions concerning the facility.

"Frankly people of the North East have had enough of the disaster that is unfolding in our A&E,” said Mr O’Dowd. “The first principal in medicine is ‘do no harm’ and the HSE plans to move patients from Navan to Drogheda without extra resources is rash, reckless and dangerous.”

Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster said to upgrade Navan and make it safe.

"They have listened to staff there who say the ED there is not fit for purpose, and not the medical professionals who say that ambulance bypass will make Our Lady of Lourdes unsafe?” said Deputy Munster. “They have the option of making Navan safe and recruiting more staff, that would serve the people of Meath, while the Lourdes can serve Louth and the North East.”

Louth TD Ged Nash said medical staff is being ignored in the Drogheda hospital.

"On two occasions last week I raised this issue in the Dail, and I was told that only a small number of patients would be affected and the impact on the Lourdes would be minimal should the Navan bypass proceed,” said Deputy Nash. “Not a single doctor or consultant I spoke to last week agrees with that assessment from the HSE.”

Mayor of Drogheda Michelle Hall said it was up to all the people of the town to add their voices to the concerns of staff and front line workers.