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.

Mark Stedman via RollingNews.ie
Drogheda

'Strong possibility' of strike action after cancer patient left on trolley for five days

The man was one of 40 in need of a bed in the overcrowded Emergency Department in Our Lady of Lourdes.

Updated at 7.30pm

AN ELDERLY CANCER patient was left waiting on a hospital trolley in Louth for five days.

The man was one of 40 in need of a bed in the overcrowded Emergency Department in Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda.

The Emergency Department in Drogheda is also short of five nurses and the INMO says staff are struggling to cope with this level of sustained overcrowding.

From January to August this year, 5,480 patients have spent time on trolleys in the Emergency Department or overcrowded wards of Drogheda hospital.

Industrial relations officer with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Tony Fitzpatrick said:

“The level of overcrowding within the Accident & Emergency Department in Drogheda is dangerous and is putting the health, safety and well-being of patients and staff at risk.”

When asked on RTÉs Morning Ireland if industrial action was on the cards, Fitzpatrick said:

It’s a very strong possibility. For 14 months in a row now, the figures have been worse than the months beforehand.

Drogheda Hospital released a statement this morning stating that a new building with eight beds will open tomorrow.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has accused the government of “failing patients attending Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda”.

“There needs to be urgent review of government policy and funding for the Health Service to end the scandal of patients stuck on trolleys in Emergency Departments.”

“New measures introduced by the Minister for Health are inadequate and the €74 million additional funding provided several months ago has failed to achieve any significant improvement in Emergency Department trolley numbers.”

Read: Dublin hospital has highest number of patients on trolleys>

Your Voice
Readers Comments
54
    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.