The treatment given to a 101 year old Ballinruan woman at University Hospital Limerick has been described as "inhumane" and "unacceptable"
The woman’s family say she had to wait five hours for an ambulance to the hospital last week, and that she then spent 25 hours on a trolley in its Emergency Department.
They also say that she then fasted so that she could undergo a scope that was then rescheduled.
The INMO has called for the Health Service Executive to carry out a full review of the case.
Meanwhile, the UL Hospitals Group says it apologises to any patient who is forcd to wait for treatment at Dooradyle.
The group, however, has declined to comment further on the case in question, citing patient confidentiality.
Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen thinks there needs to be a better explanation as to what happened, and why.
The HSE has also outlined a number of actions that it is taking to reduce overcrowding at Dooradoyle.
Their statement, in full, is as follows:
The Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick has seen an unexpected increase in patients presenting over the last week which has resulted in high numbers of patients waiting on trolleys and long delays. Due to patient confidentiality, UL Hospitals Group is unable to comment on any specific patient. UL Hospitals Group apologises that any patient has to wait to be admitted, delivery of the best possible care for the patient is our priority from the moment of presentation.
Staff across the Group are working very hard to ensure the optimum care and safety of all our patients during this exceptionally busy period.
Amongst the factors contributing to the increase in pressure within the ED is the older age profile of patients presenting along with the complexity of issues they have.
UL Hospitals Group has enacted their escalation plan to deal with the increase and the following actions have been taken by the Group to help reduce numbers and wait times for patients:
· Patients are being transferred from UHL to Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital and St John’s Hospital
- Where possible and with the support of our colleagues in the Community, patients who have finished their care are being transferred to community care
- Extra rounds are ongoing to identify patients who have finished their episode of acute care to enable them to be discharged
- We are in regular contact with GPs to ensure that patients are referred appropriately for their care
These actions have resulted in a significant reduction in patients waiting in the ED, however numbers still remain above what we would like.
Patients are reminded to keep the ED for emergencies only and to contact their GP or GP Out of Hours services in the first instance. Local Injury Units are open in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday and 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday at St. John's Hospital. Patients aged 5 years+ with minor injuries; for example suspected broken bones in arm or lower leg, sprains, strains, minor scalds, burns or cuts are encouraged to visit their Local Injury Units for treatment.
The tender process for our new state of the art ED is near finalisation and we look forward to the appointment of a contractor, it is anticipated the new ED will open by the end of 2016.
