Page 27 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

MEDIA WATCH 45

Weather worsens trolley crisis

March saw an all-time record high for the number of

patients left on trolleys but the government ignored

calls to declare an emergency period

The Irish Times (March 12) gave space of services in the private acute hospitals industry ,
to the trolley crisis under a headline - must also be sought’. It said that if emer- there would
Number of patients on hospital trolleys gency care is to be prioritised at this time, be a national
hits new high of 714. “There are 714 all non-urgent and routine cases need to inquiry into
patients on trolleys or on wards awaiting be cancelled during this period. “We saw the “predict-
admission to a hospital bed on Monday record trolley figures last week with a total able surge” in patients. She said the HSE
– the highest number ever recorded. The of 3,112 in just one week and on Monday, should declare a national emergency.”
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation each daily total from that week has been Staffing issues
said there were 80 patients deemed to surpassed by the extraordinary figure of General secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha’s
require admission by doctors waiting for 714. This upsurge was predictable and the address to the recent IRN Conference
a bed at University Hospital Limerick… INMO warned against inaction in the wake was reported on in the Industrial Relations
Nurses said there were 15 children waiting of Storm Emma. It is unfortunate for both News (March 15) under a headline Union
on trolleys for admission to a bed, seven at healthcare staff and patients that these challenge is meeting expectations, social
Temple Street Hospital and eight at Our warnings were not heeded and that emer- dialogue has role – Ní Sheaghdha. “For
Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin…INMO general gency measures sought have not been put the INMO itself, Phil Ní Sheaghdha says
secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the HSE in place,” commented INMO general sec- they are still recovering from the employ-
should put in pace an immediate directive retary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha. ment moratorium, with staffing levels
to hospitals to cease all elective or non-ur- RTÉ reported on March 13 “Extra €5m today at 2,000 below the 2007 level,
gent admissions. She said the INMO had for HSE as record 714 patients wait for even though activity levels have jumped
sought such a move on two occasions a bed.” Minister for Health Simon Harris considerably.
last week. The nurses trade union is also said he has allocated an extra €5m to “On retention, which is currently a key
seeking a declaration that the country’s the HSE to ease hospital overcrowding, issue for the union and is being formally
hospitals were now “in complete crisis.” Ms as levels reached a new record with 714 reviewed by the Public Service Pay Com-
Ní Sheaghdha said the conditions under patients on trolleys or on wards awaiting mission, she said that 250 more nurse
which patients were being cared for were admission to a bed according to figures managers left since 2016, and although
just “unsafe”. She said hospitals were from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organ- 2,573 staff nurses were taken on, 2,271 had
just “way too overcrowded, emergency isation. The money will go towards more left. There is also increased level of vio-
departments and wards.” The HSE was just home care packages, home help hours and lence against members, she says, as well as
looking for excuses, she continued; it had transitional care beds. Mr Harris said that “burnout and early resignation”. The con-
first attributed the overcrowding surge to the health service was already congested sequences are there for patients in terms
the flu season and later then to the recent before Storm Emma and a backlog, built up of “poor skills mix and reduced staff nurse/
severe weather.” by the storm, has not been cleared…The midwives ratios”. Ms Ní Sheaghdha also
Trolley crisis worsened by weather general secretary of the Irish Nurses and addressed pay inequality across health
The story was also carried on Midwives Organisation said the circum- professionals, which she said was leading
Irishhealth.com (March 13) – Over 700 stances in which people are being cared to emigration and difficulties in recruiting
patients on trolleys nationwide. “The for now is “absolutely unsafe.” Speaking from overseas. The agency spend in 2017
INMO has repeatedly called for a two- on RTÉ’s News at One, Phil Ní Sheaghdha was €246m, of which €65m was spent
week period in March to be declared, and said the volume of patients is too high to on nursing. The union wants to see 2,600
treated, as an emergency period in the give proper, correct and humane care. Ms extra acute beds depending on reform, 190
public health service. This would allow for Ní Sheaghdha said the INMO wrote to the critical care and 1,300 regarding care of
extraordinary measures to be put in place HSE last Monday to ask them to declare the older person. All of these, she added,
to focus on recovering from the backlog a national emergency in hospital services require a serious investment in nursing
created by Storm Emma. The Organisation for two weeks as a result of Storm Emma, and midwifery recruitment and retention WIN Vol 26 No 3 April 2018
insisted that “In this crisis, all measures to adding that the crisis was entirely predict- measures.”
properly resource and staff the health ser- able. She said the HSE is not planning on Ann Keating is the media relations officer for the INMO.
vice must be explored and the assistance a national basis, saying if it was any other email: Ann.Keating@inmo.ie