ALMOST FOUR THOUSAND BED DAYS LOST IN GALWAY HOSPITALS

Date Published: 28-Aug-2008

Hospitals in Galway have lost almost four thousand 'bed days' in less than 18 months because beds are being blocked by patients who could be discharged but have nowhere else to go to be looked after. The lack of 'step-down' facilities in the community means many patients are being kept for longer in hospital than they need to be. HSE figures released to Fine Gael TD Damien English reveale sixteen hundred and 37 bed days were lost at UHG in 2007, and 485 so far this year. At Merlin Park hospital, 790 bed days were lost last year, and 328 this year to date. Meanwhile at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, 377 bed days were lost in 2007 and 129 bed days lost there in the first eight months of this year. Fine Gael is claiming the time lag exists because there aren't adequate services in the community to cater for patient after-care.