Budget will not solve hospital overcrowding – INMO

Ciara Galvin

THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has reacted to the 2016 Budget by saying that the increase in funding will not address overcrowding.
It was announced in Tuesday’s budget that the health sector would be allocated €13.7 billion, however the INMO have released a statement saying this would not allow the health system to address the current Emergency Department overcrowding.
Earlier this month The Mayo News reported that the number of patients forced to wait on trolleys in the Emergency Department in Mayo General Hospital had dramatically increased.
The number of patients on trolleys for the month of August this year was 105, an increase of 950 percent on the same period the previous year.
Numbers continued to rise with figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Trolley and Ward Watch Analysis showing that 118 patients were on trolleys for the month of September this year, an increase of 13 on the previous month.
“The budget allocation of €13.175 billion is still significantly less than the budget allocation for 2007 of almost €15 billion, prior to the economic crash,” detailed the INMO statement.
It continued, “This allocation will not allow the health service to open, and staff, the additional beds required and the establishment of seven day primary care services needed across the country.”
Commenting on the health budget allocation, Industrial Relations Officer with the INMO Regina Durcan said the budget was ‘a long way from addressing staffing issues’ across acute services and elderly care services.
The INMO are currently in talks with management of Mayo General Hospital in relation to concerns raised by nursing staff.
“We’re looking for more nurses and support staff which would improve efficiency in the Emergency Department and to make working life tolerable for nursing staff,” said Ms Durcan.
Ms Durcan will be meeting Emergency Department staff next month to discuss a ‘plan of action’.
“Unless management come up with firm proposals in relation to helping staff meet standards expected of them from the HSE, HIQA and other bodies we will be looking at a plan of action.”
Asked what type of plan of action could be taken, Ms Durcan said the INMO would ballot their members and take part in lunchtime protests in early December if staff concerns are not met.
“The HSE don’t seem to be addressing our needs,” concluded Ms Durcan.