Large numbers of patients on trolleys at Mayo hospital today

The number of patients on trolleys at Mayo University Hospital has risen sharply this week. There were seven patients on trolleys at the Mayo hospital on Monday but that jumped to 21 yesterday and figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) this morning have revealed that 20 patients are still on trolleys, eight in the emergency department and 12 in wards elsewhere.

Others hospitals in the west also have large numbers on trolleys, with 65 awaiting admission at University Hospital Galway and 25 at Sligo University Hospital.

Commenting on the nationwide trolley figures earlier this month, INMO deputy general secretary Dr Edward Mathews said: “We are beginning to see the number of patients being treated on a trolley, in a chair or in another inappropriate bed space rise rapidly. Our members are very concerned about their ability to provide safe care when they have to contend with rising numbers of admissions coupled with unsafe staffing levels.

“With an ageing population and record attendances at emergency hospitals, the need for a thriving nursing and midwifery workforce in both acute hospital and community settings has never been greater.”

The INMO has also said large gaps in the nursing and midwifery workforce are impacting the ability of its members to provide safe care.

The union began balloting its members for industrial action on Monday last, October 14.

At a meeting of INMO representatives from all around the country, held at the Richmond Education Centre in Dublin on Saturday last, October 12, examples of short staffing and very high-risk situations now arising due to the HSE’s de-facto recruitment ban were set out by INMO representatives.

Many nursing posts in cancer, palliative, paediatric, and rehab care are being left vacant, according to the INMO. This in turn is leading to increasing demands from HSE management on staff to work on days off, stay on for significant unpaid periods after a rostered shift ends and deal with increasing levels of frustration from the public who are waiting longer for services.

Speaking ahead of the ballot taking commencing, INMO President Caroline Gourley said:

“INMO members have provided us with example after example of posts not being filled when a colleague leaves or retires and posts that are deemed essential under the ED agreement not being filled. While there is a Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix, many of the posts measured as necessary to provide safe care under this are not being filled. A large number of temporary vacancies are being left vacant due to leave, particularly maternity leave this is leading to extremely high-risk situations for patients and working conditions which compromise the health and safety of the rostered nurses and midwives.”