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A TOTAL OF 638 patients lay on trolleys in Irish hospitals awaiting beds while HSE CEO Bernard Gloster told an Oireachtas Committee today that having one patient on a trolley was too much.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said the high number, tallied in its Trolley Watch service, represents that overcrowding in hospitals is “completely out of control”.
Gloster has promised that the HSE’s focus for the year ahead is to reduce the number of people who wait for beds on trolleys across the healthcare system.
A spokesperson for the HSE has claimed that 478 people were on trolleys, as of 8am this morning, not 638 as was claimed by the INMO.
It is understood that the HSE classifies what ‘trolleys’ are differently to the union, which can often lead to large disparages in the number of people who are awaiting beds at acute hospitals. Both parties agree that no patient should wait on trolleys.
The INMO’s General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha yesterday requested that the HSE publish their discharge rates.
In a statement to The Journal today, a spokesperson for the HSE said that 407 people were delayed in hospital today while awaiting discharge.
“This is unacceptable to us,” they added.
Speaking to the Oireachtas Joint-Committee on Health in Dublin today, HSE CEO Bernard Gloster said the HSE will focus on reducing the number of people waiting on trolleys throughout this year.
Gloster said the HSE’s National Service Plan for 2024 aims to improve services, waiting times and quality of care. The CEO added that “as long as there’s one person on a trolley, that’s too much”.
“I am conscious that many people remain challenged in their confidence in us as an organisation. This is in part because there at times we simply come up short for them. While the evidence shows a lot of improvement, there is a significant wait to go.”
The HSE has said that all patients who present to emergency departments will be seen and treated but has stressed that the most urgent patients will be prioritised and requested the public to only attend A&E when it’s absolutely necessary.
“Our staff work hard to do all they can to reduce the length of time patients wait in EDs and we apologise when patients experience long delays,” the spokesperson said.
“It is important that people continue to consider all options and pathways available to them before attending an ED, including Injury Units, GP Out of Hours, GPs and community pharmacy.”
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Elderly, sick & disabled people terrified to go into ED as they know what awaits them. We must do better then this. We need to either build more hospitals and staff them or put a limit on the treatment we offer. A solution may be to bring in universal health insurance for all citizens and make it a requirement for everyone except short stay tourists, applying to come here. I believe that is how the Australian system works.
@Tilal Moore: build another hospital? I know just the man for the job..
@Tilal Moore: We have universal health insurance.
That’s part of the PRSI we all pay.
@Tilal Moore: yeh…can you go to australia without passport? Wont work here as 70% will jump the dole train…
@Tilal Moore: leo legacy
@Tilal Moore: But where would we get the people to work in the extra hospitals if they are already leaving here due to housing and cost of living? This is not a case of “build it and they will come”
This is another one who would do well to resign. Does he realise that he is the CEO!? Like who is he talking to when he says 1 is too many… it is all within his gift to do something about it
Agree, not exactly inspiring that he plans that people waiting “will be reduced”. Reduced, how? Reduced to taking out loans & going elsewhere? What happened to the EU scheme whereby people can be treated elsewhere, anyway?
And when people aren’t being sent home, maybe there’s a reason for that and they can’t yet manage without supports that aren’t there for them. It’s hard enough to get any carers or respite care lined up. People don’t stay in a hospital bed because they’re enjoying the food!
“A spokesperson for the HSE has claimed that 478 people were on trolleys, as of 8am this morning, not 638 as was claimed by the INMO.
It is understood that the HSE classifies what ‘trolleys’ are differently to the union,…”
The core question is if 478 people were to be given beds, would there be any left on trolleys?
If yes, then then the HSE numbers are wrong.
100%
Making all the right noises, but delivering nothing new in the issue. An uninformed person would be forgiven for thinking that Bernard Gloster had just taken over as CEO of the HSE and was setting out his intentions for how to address the issue of patients on trolleys as if it just came to his attention….
He has been CEO since December 2022 FFS!
It would also helpful to know on a daily basis how many nurses call in sick, how many agency staff are hired on a daily basis, and how many nurses who couldn’t work during covid due to underlying conditions are still employed in HSE hospitals.
Hopefully a GE is on the way this year but instead of that lot dictating to us what they will put in their manifestos why don’t we insist on what the big issues are to be fixed. Healthcare, of all things, should be at the highest levels and we must insist on that if they want your vote. Whatever your party or candidate we must insist on these big issues being addressed. Maybe then we can start to move forward.
And for eff sake, the trolley numbers issue is going on 20 years or more! You work your entire life of 50 years service and pay your taxes during all that time and when you find yourself in hospital in your 70′s with a minor or common affliction they tell you to jump onto that trolley there in the corridor, here’s a pillow and a blanket, get the head down and the doctor will be here in the morning and we might get you a bed in a ward tomorrow evening, if someone else leaves, oh and your on the waiting list for an x-ray, and the canteen is closed so here’s a bottle of water and an apple. Sleep well!
Pathetic, we can do much better than that. And if you are reading this and are in your twenties or thirties that bed on a trolley in the corridor could be you someday, or a parent or grandparent next week. That’s how much your vote can be worth.
Something is obviously screwy if the CEO of the Health board comes out with a bizarre statements like that, he is in the job 1 year, what has done in that time on this trolley issue, the numbers are largely unchanged since he started.
It is entirely unacceptable, that is why we accept, sorry I meant put up with, it.
Awh I miss Paul Reid (said nobody ever)… I have the utmost respect for ALL hospital employees. Unfortunately the HSE has too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
Bernard Gloster is from limerick…he needs to spend a day in A and E in UHL…not a quick visit…see the sick patients packed like sardines with no privacy or dignity…blocking fire exits….
if there is a fire there nobody will get out….
Another f ING chocolate teapot, we are doomed
Total disgrace, how much longer will this continue for.
Read the headline what a thing to say , and this guy is paid how much
@john mac: Too much.
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