SO FAR THIS year 5,880 people aged 75 and over have waited in an emergency department for more than 24 hours.
The HSE’s Service Plan for 2017 set a target that anyone aged 75 and over would be discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration.
However, according to information provided by the HSE, 25 hospitals across the country had waiting times of over 24 hours in their emergency departments.
University Hospital Limerick was the biggest offender with 838 people in that age bracket waiting more than 24 hours.
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital on Eccles St in Dublin was next in line with 702 and Galway University Hospital had 678 people aged 75 and over waiting more than a day.
Fianna Fáil’s health spokesperson Billy Kelleher received the information from the HSE after submitting a parliamentary question.
Here’s a breakdown of the 25 hospitals and the number of people aged 75 and over who experienced waiting times of over 24 hours at emergency departments.
Commenting on the figures, Kelleher said, “The government and the HSE are falling way short of what is required to provide a decent health service.
It’s not acceptable that so many older and more vulnerable people should have to endure such long waits in emergency departments. Frankly a target of 24 hours is pathetic in itself and it is setting the bar way too low.
“A 2012 HIQA report recommended that the total patient time spent in the emergency department should be less than six hours. This time should be measured from the time the patient arrives in the ED to the time of departure from the ED.
“The fact remains that the acute hospital budget is completely inadequate to meet patient demand.”
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