Elderly patients forced to wait over 24 hours in A&E

More than 1,750 elderly patients faced waiting times of over 24 hours in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Galway last year.

UHG had the second worst record for Emergency Departments across the country for waiting times for patients aged 75 and above for the period January to November.

Figures from the HSE show that 1,751 patients aged 75 or over had to wait in UHG’s ED for more than 24 hours.

The highest figure recorded was at University Hospital limerick at 1,853 patients.

Sonya Cotter of the HSE’s National Services said: “The number of older persons presenting to EDs is growing higher than the overall increase in the general population. Older persons presenting to EDs are much more likely to be admitted and will stay twice as long as the general population. Consequently, when patients wait on trolleys, a higher number of patients waiting are in the older person’s category and particularly greater than 75 years category.

“The HSE is engaging in a number of programmes and initiatives to address how older people’s care needs are met, not just in hospital, but to prevent them presenting to hospital EDs,” she said.

Galway West Sinn Féin election candidate Mairéad Farrell said: “All throughout 2019, Fine Gael have displayed disregard for all aspects of the health service and in particular, they have shown that they have no plan to address the overcrowding crisis in UHG.

“We’re told by HSE officials that a new Emergency Department will be completed by 2023. Apart from the fact that patients can’t wait that long, going by the litany of false promises on health by Fine Gael and their pals in Fianna Fáil, it’s hard to believe that this will come to pass.

“Figures released have shown that between January and November of last year 15,344 patients over the age of 75 had to wait over 24 hours for treatment in Emergency Departments around the State.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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