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FIANNA Fáil TD for Kerry, John Brassil, says patients and staff are suffering as a result of, what he describes as, Fine Gael’s failure to properly manage the health service.
He was responding to the latest HIQA National Inpatient Experience Survey, which found that the bulk of patients attending UHK had a mostly positive experience, but the majority of patients spent longer in the Emergency Department before admission, than HSE recommended targets.
Deputy Brassil said; “According to this survey, more than two thirds of patients admitted to University Hospital Kerry waited longer than the six hour timeframe. In fact, 11% of them were over 24 hours in ED before they were given a bed on a ward. Seven people who took part in the survey waited more than 48 hours for a bed.
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“Despite these shocking statistics, patients did not necessarily have a negative overall experience, and this is solely down to the amazing staff at the hospital. They are working under unacceptable conditions, yet always put patient care first – and this is reflected in the experiences of patients. I want to thank them for the care and support they give their patients, and for the dignity with which they treat them.
“The situation at UHK is completely unacceptable; overcrowding in the Emergency Department, thousands of lost bed days as a result of delayed discharges and cuts to services mean that patients and staff are being adversely affected.
“We need a radical rethink of how our health services are being run, with a bigger focus on community healthcare. Unless we see a shift in direction soon, our hospitals will be unable to cope”, concluded Deputy Brassil.
