Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Report

IMO says rising population and bed cuts causing 'chaos' in emergency departments

The IMO also warned that demand for hospital space will rise this year because of elective surgeries being cancelled last year.

THE SHORTAGE OF acute hospital beds is causing chaos in emergency departments according to the Irish Medical Organisation.

The IMO says patients who need to be admitted have nowhere to go and are left in overcrowded emergency departments.

The lobby group claims 1,600 public beds have been cut from hospitals and the shortage of beds – coupled with a rising population – is a huge problem.

Chairman of the IMO Consultant Committee, Dr. Peadar Gilligan, said efforts to alleviate the problem which do not focus on the shortage of acute beds are “little more than political PR initiatives which would have little impact on the plight of patients”.

The emergency department crisis is a year-round crisis. The notion of peaks in winter that require special attention is mistaken.

He added the problems in emergency departments can actually get worse during the summer as the local population swells with holiday-makers.

Gilligan said that emergency department overcrowding will not only continue – but is guaranteed to worsen as long as the government refuse to fund additional public beds in hospitals.

The problem is actually quite simple. Our population is rising and we have cut 1,600 public beds from our hospitals.

“Put those together and a crisis in our public hospitals is inevitable. Any attempt to deal with the problem which doesn’t increase the bed count is PR led not evidence based.”

The campaign is focusing on five key points:

  • Acute bed shortage is the root cause of the overcrowding problem
  • Overcrowding is now a year round problem
  • Don’t divert public funds to private hospitals
  • Stop cancelling elective surgery
  • Emigration of Irish doctors is now a major issue

Gilligan also warned that demand for hospital space this year will rise in part because of the decision a year ago to cancel elective surgeries; “very often what might have been elective a year ago becomes critical now.

“We warned last year that cancelling elective procedures would have consequences and those consequences will include increased demand in the coming months from patients who were not treated last year.”

Read: There’ll be a million over-65s in Ireland by 2031 – experts say we need a plan>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
59
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.