Numbers of patients on trolleys skyrocket

A shocking threefold increase in the number of patients waiting on trolleys in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, this year has been blamed on bad planning, poor resources and inadequate bed capacity by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The numbers who had to wait on trolleys in the Navan hospital in the first quarter of this year rose to 587 from a figure of just 170 for the same period last year. The figures for the same periods in 2008 and 2009 were 266 and 290, respectively. The dramatic increase was blamed by INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, on the premature reonfiguration of services in the north-east, including bed closures in Our Lady's Hospital. The figures have been described by local public represetatives as an indictment of the previous government and have led to calls on the present government to live up to commitments made before the general election. Mr Doran said that the HSE decision to centralise trauma services in Drogheda and to close beds in Navan without any viable alternative in the way of community services, had led to this huge increase. He pointed out that there had been reconfiguration in the north-east and the mid-west and the INMO's 'trolley watch' figures in both those regions had increased substantially. He said that, in Navan, there was a much bigger population than the hospital had been built for and this had been made worse by downsizing. "This is the inevitable consequence of bad planning, poor resources and less bed capacity," he said. Cllr Joe Reilly said the figures were an indictment of the previous government and highlighted the need for investment in Our Lady's. "The new Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, gave a public commitment to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan and he has to live up to that commitment," he said. Cllr Reilly said the figures would have to be reduced from the current five-year high to a situation where nobody has to wait on trolleys. Deputy Damien English said the new minister was determined to reform the health service and had made it clear that patients waiting on trolleys and hospital waiting lists were a priority. "This is something I have discussed with him and there is a major plan to change the entire system. It won't all be implemented for another six to seven years, but there is no doubt, some of the changes will impact in the short term," said Deputy English. He said that Dr Reilly will be meeting with representatives of the Save Navan Hospital campaign shortly. Meanwhile, Mr Doran said that the recent dispute over pay rates for agency nursing staff was having a serious impact on all hospitals in the north-east, including Our Lady's. He said that because of the public service recruitment embargo, the hospital in Navan was heavily reliant on agency nurses. The Labour Relations Commission has been asked to intervene in the dispute between the health service unions and the HSE, which relates to exclusive contracts issued for the provision of staff through two specific agencies. Mr Doran explained that the HSE called for tenders from agencies who were prepared to supply nurses, midwives and other workers on lower rates of pay. The successful agencies made an agreement to pay those lower rates and entered into a contract with the HSE without consulting the nurses, midwives and other workers who were on their books. "Many such workers have remained unavailable for assignment under the new lower rates. "The hospitals that had been using agency staff to compensate for the loss of personnel through the public service moratorium on recruitment are most affected and are at this point under serious pressure." Deputy Peadar Tóibín, chairman of the Save Navan Hospital campaign, agreed the dispute was impacting on services in Navan. He said that people who had left had not been replaced and these vacancies needed to be filled. He said the campaign would be meeting this week with nursing staff, doctors and representatives of consultants on Friday and would then meet with the new minister before the end of the month. Deputy Toibín said the campaign is hopeful of a more certain future for Our Lady's following recent communications with the consultants.