There were an alarming number of children on trolleys in Irish hospitals in September the INMO has said.
Last month there were 2,523 children under the age of 16 left to be treated on a trolley or chair the INMO’s monthly report states.
The high level of general overcrowding in September has been a “huge red flag” for the coming winter.
University Hospital Galway was the fifth most overcrowded hospital in the country last month, with a total of 516 patients on trolleys over the course of September.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said, “September has always been a reliable indicator of how the winter is going to look for healthcare staff, and the situation that our members are predicting based on these figures as was the case in August, indicates a huge red flag.”
“The number of children on trolleys this September is also really alarming. Knowing what we do about how trolley waits negatively affect patient outcomes, and how rapidly children can decline when they are sick, the risks that children are being exposed to in our hospital are too high.”
She added that a risk assessment would be carried out in any other industry which had reached such a crisis point, but that from their engagements with the HSE they don’t seem to be willing to put the necessary mitigation measures in place.
“Our members are very worried for themselves and the people in their care. Without real action the State is basically just asking staff and patients to lower their expectations for their health service.”
“We need risk reduction measures to be introduced now – not when it is too late and an inevitable adverse incident occurs.”
“The current situation is not sustainable, and the impact on vulnerable people, including children, is not something the government should be prepared to accept.”
