Patients being denied hot food another twist in trolley crisis – Kelly
Labour Spokesperson on Health, Alan Kelly TD, has expressed concern that people waiting on hospital trolleys are being denied hot food in some of Ireland’s largest hospitals.
Deputy Kelly said:
“It is quite worrying to read in today’s newspapers that some of Ireland’s largest hospitals have shifted their policy to deny vulnerable patients on trolleys hot food while they are waiting for a bed.
“Does this recent change in policy not highlight the crisis in our hospitals that for health and safety reasons that certain hospitals have decided to stop serving hot food to people on trolleys?
“This latest twist in the trolley crisis is a symptom of the lack of progress being made to stem the outflow of medical professionals in Ireland.
”Healthcare staff in every hospital around the country are doing their best in trying conditions, while working crying out for better working hours, pay and conditions. How can the HSE and the Minister for Health expect to attract an additional nurses and doctors when there are people leaving the profession in droves because of the working conditions?
“We have a real opportunity with Brexit to recruit EU national nurses who are leaving the NHS. We could use Brexit to our advantage to bridge the gap in staff shortages across our health service. The HSE and the Government need to get their house in order when it comes to pay and conditions in order to attract these healthcare professionals.
“If we are to end the trolley and staffing crises in our health service, the Government needs to be more proactive when it comes to attracting quality staff to our healthcare system to help bridge the gaps in services at the moment.”