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THE number of patients waiting on trolleys at Kerry General Hospital last month, was up 38% on the 2014 figure according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
The 98 patients is the highest number for July since records began 2006 – the year when the INMO began recording the information – and 300% up on the 2013 figure of 25. Last July there were 71 patients waiting on trolleys.
Nationally, there were 6,715 admitted patients, on trolleys, up 21% on July 2014 and the highest ever level of overcrowding recorded for the month of July.
As a result of these figures the INMO is seeking an immediate meeting with the HSE and the Department of Health.
This will be to agree a further series of immediate initiatives, requiring additional resources, for the purposes of alleviating the negative impact upon patient care, and patient well-being, arising from this level of overcrowding.
These discussions, the INMO stress, must also agree initiatives to address the chronic staff shortages, which now exist, within nursing, and the inability of hospitals to recruit nursing staff at this time.
Speaking yesterday, INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: “This volume of overcrowding, in our country’s hospitals, during the month of July is unprecedented and cannot be allowed to continue. The additional funding for the Fair Deal scheme, with the reduction in the number of delayed discharges, is most welcome but, obviously, is not enough to deal with the system wide problem.”
There were seven patients waiting on trolleys today at KGH.
The following is the number of patients waiting on trolleys at Kerry General Hospital in July from 2006 to 2015;
• 2006 – 85
• 2007 – 43
• 2008 – 18
• 2009 – 17
• 2010 – 32
• 2011 – 25
• 2012 – 73
• 2013 – 25
• 2014 – 71
• 2015 – 98
