LIMERICK REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN A PERMANENT CRISIS
Issued : Wednesday 20 January, 2010
Limerick City Labour Deputy Jan O’Sullivan and Party Spokesperson on Health has today stated that the overcrowding in the Regional Hospital resulting in patients lying on trolleys in the corridors is nothing short of scandalous.
I am receiving calls and complaints on a daily basis from family members of patients to my constituency office concerning the conditions that staff and patients have to endure.
Frontline health staff are literally run off their feet and it is simply not acceptable that both staff and patients have to continue to endure these conditions. While we have witnessed exceptional weather conditions over the last few weeks that has placed additional demands on the services provided the hospital is now operating almost permanently in a crisis situation.
It is unacceptable that management of the HSE can let this overcrowding continue for sustained periods of time as all health and safety rules are simply thrown out the window. With trolleys now lined along corridors in the Regional it is practically impossible for staff to provide an acceptable and efficient health care service to patients who are left with no privacy. There is a real and serious risk and in fact are subjecting themselves and visitors alike to further infection.
When are the management of the HSE both locally and nationally going to deal once and for all with the ongoing issues that are plaqueing our health services for years.? When will decisive action be taken by the HSE to guarantee a minimum level of care and patient safety.?
It is disgraceful that we are still witnessing these conditions in hospitals such as the Limerick Regional when at the same time Government policy of building private hospitals on state land and exposing the taxpayer to unknown costs is being pursued.
The realisation that greater investment in our public hospital system is now required with more and more people simply unable to afford excessive private health insurance has just not sunk in with both Government and senior HSE management.
