This article is from page 4 of the 2012-04-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
PATIENTS at the region’s largest hospital are left without “privacy and dignity” while stretched nursing staff are finding it impossible to provide safe care to their patients.
The Mid Western Regional Hospital Limerick is chronically overcrowded, according to its nursing staff, and last week their warnings were verified when the hospital cancelled all non-emergency surgical procedures on Thursday.
As many as 21 day-ward surgical procedures, two angiograms and two broncoscopies, as well as 45 outpatient appointments, were cancelled.
In the course of the day, the HSE appealed for patients not to attend the Emergency Department and to visit their general practitioner instead.
The health service said the cancellations were as a result of a sudden surge in emergency attendances at the hospital that saw some 36 patients on trolleys at the Emergency Department at 5.45pm the previous evening and an unprecedented demand for inpatient beds.
“Extra ward rounds took place during the day to release beds through discharging patients who could safely be sent home,” a spokesperson said.
“These are choices we do not make lightly. Every patient is important to us but, in the current situation, we have to make hard decisions. We very much regret the inevitable delay and inconvenience but dealing with the situation in the Emergency Department must take priority,” said Hospital CEO Ann Doherty.
Doctors were unable to ascribe any single explanation to the surge in the Emergency Department.
Meanwhile, the INMO trolley watch figures demonstrate the hospital endures chronic overcrowding in the Emergency Department, plus up to 50 additional patients on the corridors and in annexes of the hospital daily, awaiting a designated bed.
“Safe and proper care cannot be given to patients while they are placed in undesignated in-patient areas and while there is inadequate staffing to provide a safe level of care,” a spokesperson for the nurses union said.
Mary Fogarty, INMO Industrial Relations Officer said, “It is imperative that the HSE, together with the Special Delivery Unit, act immediately to address the current situation, and remove the very real risk of an adverse incident which currently exists in this region.”
Tessie HARTMAN nee Farrell
of Moore Street, Kilrush, at Regina House, Kilrush. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11 o’clock with burial after in All Saints Cemetery, Shanakyle. May she rest in peace.
Susan CABEY nee McGrath
of Cahermore, Kilmaley. Peacefully at Limerick. Wife of the late John. Funeral mass onTuesday at 11.30 with burial after in Kilmaley cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to Kilmaley Day Care Centre. May she rest in peace.
Sister Paul PILKINGTON
of Good Shepherd Convent, Pennywell Road, Limerick and late of Ahaga, Kilmihil. Peacefully in the loving care of the nurses and staff of Caherass Nursing Home. Sr, Paul, Good Shepherd Sisters. Deeply regretted by her sisters in Community, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, relatives and friends. Laid to rest in Mount St Oliver Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Nora CLANCY
of Kildysart. In her 92nd year. Laid to rest in Kilfidane Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Ann (Nancy) MULREADY (née Flynn)
of 25 ChurchView, Sixmilebridge. Laid to rest in Kileen Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
Helen MOLONEY (née Duffy)
of Cullina. Laid to rest in Killofin Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
James (Jim) MANGAN
of AshView,Tulla Road, Roslevan, Ennis. Laid to rest in Doora. Donations, if desired, to your favourite charity. May he rest in peace.
Michael HOWLEY