KERRY County Councillor Toireasa Ferris is calling on HIQA to investigate health and safety conditions at the Emergency Department of University Hospital Kerry.

It comes as figures for today, supplied by the INMO, reveal there are 36 patients waiting on trolleys at the hospital.

Cllr Ferris stated: “This morning I have been contacted by staff and families of patients at University Hospital Kerry. All have told me of the extremely unbearable conditions occurring at the Emergency Department at present. There were 24 people lying on trollies yesterday, my information that today’s number is substantially higher.”

“Some are quite elderly and have been there since yesterday. HIQA need to investigate these serious health and safety issues immediately. I have asked my father Deputy Martin Ferris to raise the matter in the Dáil today,” she concluded.