Trolley figures give first glimpse into winter in our health service
Labour Party Leader and Health spokesperson, Alan Kelly TD, has said today’s trolley figures give us a first glimpse into winter in our health service.
Deputy Kelly said:
“Today the INMO TrolleyWatch figures state that over 221 people are on trolleys today, the highest number since Covid arrived on our shores.
“There is a real sense of uncertainty on what winter will be like in our health service while we try to co-exist with Covid and today’s trolley figures give us a glimpse of what our emergency departments will look like over the coming weeks.
“Every year I call for a tailored plan to deal with the trolley crisis in winter especially for University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital which traditionally see large spikes of trolley numbers, and now more than ever before we need to see a funded, targeted plan for the midwest and southwest regions.
“Our healthcare heroes have already been through so much this year. After all the emotional support this government gave them through speeches, applause and lit candles, the least they deserve is a plan from Minister Donnelly and the HSE to increase bed capacity to avoid what we know are traditional spikes in trolley numbers.
“Additional bed capacity and extra staff are crucial to solving the now annual trolley crisis. This needs to be dealt with.
“The usual excuses on why we aren’t doing everything we can to stop pressure on our hospitals won’t wash with the public or with hospital staff.”