Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD is accusing the government of effectively leaving people to die on trolleys by not adequately funding acute and step-down health facilities.
Timmy Dooley has been reacting to this week’s trolleywatch figures from the INMO, with a record-equalling 81 on trolleys at the region’s main hospital yesterday.
That figure remains alarmingly high today.
The trolley crisis at University Hospital Limerick is showing no signs of abating.
Yesterday’s figure of 81 patients on trolleys matched the highest ever level at any hospital in the country, and today it has dropped by only one.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley has hit out at the government for burying their heads in the sand over the crisis and how far it’s gone.
He feels the level of funding ringfenced for facilities that would help alleviate the situation falls far short of what’s needed.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says this month is already the worst on record, even though there’s still a week to go.
Funding has been released in recent days to address the issue of delayed discharges but despite this, the UL Hospitals Group says these remain above average.
CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland Tadhg Daly says making use of beds in nursing homes for the appropriate patients should play a part in tackling the discharge issue.
He says there’s too much reactive action being taken, rather than preventative.
