Page 6 - World of Irish Nursing April 2018

NEWS 9

March 12: Crisis beyond comparison

Highest trolley figures ever recorded, as situation worsens in EDs

The INMO recorded 714 INMO Annual Trolley and Ward Watch figures 2005-2017
patients on trolleys in acute
hospitals on March 12, 2018.
University hospital Limerick
had the highest number of
admitted patients with a total
of 80 on trolleys at 8am that
morning.
The INMO has repeatedly
called for a two week period
in March to be declared, and
treated as an emergency
period in the Irish public health
service, meaning that extraor-
dinary measures should have
been put in place to focus on
recovering from the extreme
weather event.
In this crisis all measures to
properly resource and staff
the health service must be
explored and the assistance of
services in the private acute
hospitals must also be sought.
The Organisation also said that
ensuring prioritisation of emer- total of 3,112 in just one week of Storm emma. It is unfor- emergency response plans put
gency care also required all and yet each daily total from tunate for both healthcare into operation.”
non-urgent and routine cases that week was surpassed by staff and patients that these A meeting of the e D
to be cancelled during this the extraordinary figure of warnings were not heeded Taskforce took place that
period. 714 admitted patients on trol- and that emergency meas- afternoon, at which the INMO
INMO general secretary leys on March 12. This upsurge ures sought were not put in raised this issue as a prior-
Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “We was predictable and the INMO place. The INMO, yet again, ity which could not wait any
saw record trolley figures in warned against inaction or called for emergency status to longer to be addressed (see
the first week of March with a insufficient action in the wake be immediately declared and page 10).

March 20: Overcrowding crisis not Staffing/skill

over – 500 patients on trolleys mix taskforce
phase II
The INMO trolley/ward watch there were 470 on trolleys plus now calling on the hSe to con-
figures for Tuesday, March 20 13 children awaiting a bed. tinue curtailment of services to Phase two of the ED Task-
showed that 500 patients were University hospital Limerick ensure figures do not escalate force on Staffing and Skill
waiting for an inpatient bed had the highest number with again this week and to allow Mix is due to take place
in hospital. This included 342 66 patients waiting for a bed, hospitals deal with the current on March 22, 2018 and
waiting in emergency depart- followed by St Luke’s hospital, high numbers. revised draft assump-
ments around the country and Kilkenny with 42 and Univer- “The INMO has sought con- tions will be considered.
158 inappropriately placed on sity hospital Galway with 41. firmation that all hospitals The issue is that there is
already full wards. In addition, Speaking on March 20, are adhering to the escalation no funding in the Service
there were three children wait- INMO general secretary, Phil policy and will be advising Plan for 2018 to fund roll
ing for a bed in Temple Street Ní Sheaghdha said: “As pre- again on the health and safety out. This matter will be
hospital, Dublin. dicted the trolley figures are obligations of the employer in discussed via a motion WIN Vol 26 No 3 April 2018
This figure is an increase on on the rise again following the situations where workplaces at the INMO annual dele-
Friday, March 16 before the Bank holiday weekend. hospi- are overcrowded and pose risks gates conference in May.
bank holiday weekend, when tals are still in crisis and we are to staff.”