Dáil Tuesday 12 November 2019 at 14:35

Hospital trolleys in South Tipperary

Summary

Deputy McGrath raised the huge number of patients on trolleys nationally and the severe pressure on South Tipperary General Hospital, then challenged the Taoiseach to acknowledge the crisis. After procedural confusion, the Taoiseach said he was aware of the issue and pointed to a new 60-bed block in Clonmel, which Deputy McGrath said lacked staff.

Mattie McGrath Independent

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the number of people without hospital beds - on trolleys, chairs, window ledges or whatever else they can sit on - so far this year has reached 100,457. I am sure the Taoiseach does not dispute these figures. Some 6,040 of these unfortunate people have been waiting for days at South Tipperary General Hospital, which covers south Tipperary, west Waterford and much of north Tipperary. It is shocking that a 102 year old recently had to wait on a trolley for two and a half days. South Tipperary General Hospital has been particularly badly hit because it is an old building and these trolleys have to be placed along narrow corridors. It is totally unsuitable. It is a fire hazard. It is totally unfair to the front-line staff - the nurses and doctors - who are trying to triage and do everything else. As the Minister of State, Deputy Daly, will be aware, they are also dealing with mental health - people with psychotic attacks and everything else - because we do not have any acute area where people with those kinds of issues can be attended to. The figures for the year to date are shocking because the winter has not yet arrived. The situation in our country today is truly shocking. It is just not right.

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