40 on trolleys is all time high for A&E

Date Published: 21-Nov-2008

OVERCROWDING in the A&E department of University Hospital Galway reached one of its all-time highs this week — a situation which has been described as “unacceptable” by one member of the HSE West forum.

On Wednesday 40 patients were reported to be on trolleys according to the Irish Nurses Organisation’s national Trolley Watch. The day before it was 23 and yesterday it was 24.

Councillor Catherine Connolly, who is also a member of the HSE West Regional Health Forum, said she was shocked that the trolley situation continued to be a crisis for A&E.

“That there should be 40 patients, even half that on trolleys overnight in A&E is unacceptable and shocking. I will be seeking an update on the matter at Tuesday’s Regional Health Forum meeting and am expecting a report on the new medical assessment unit as well.

“I was in A&E myself recently and I witnessed patients on trolleys under the television screens in the public waiting area where they could be seen by everyone as they were barely concealed with screens.

“A&E are limping from crisis to crisis but so are other areas of the hospitals and yet as a …