OVERCROWDING IN GALWAY HOSPITALS RISES DRAMATICALLY

Date Published: 05-Oct-2009

The number of patients on trollies at Portiuncula hospital has increased by over 1000 percent compared to the same period two years ago.Meanwhile, the number of patients on trollies at University College Hospital Galway has increased by 34 percent compared to the same period.A survey carried out by the Irish Nurses Organisation, show that in in September 2007, 9 patients were on trollies in Portiuncula hopsital while this September 91 patients were on trollies.In UCHG, 209 patients were on trollies in September 2007, compared to 281 last month.The Irish Nurses Organisation is claiming that the recruitment embargo is having a savage impact on our health service. Overall, the survey on 30 hospitals nationwide shows overcrowding in A and E Departments has increased by 30 per cent in the last year.