Naas Hospital sees 25 patients on trolleys today with calls for state of 'emergency'

Today Naas General Hospital sees 25 patients waiting on trolleys with continued calls for an 'emergency two week period.'

On Friday, the INMO renewed its call for a two week period in March to be declared, and treated, as an emergency period in the Irish public health service, meaning that extraordinary measures should have been put in place to focus on recovering from the extreme weather event.

Today there are 25 people on trolleys at Naas General Hospital, 15 at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, 32 at the Mater Hospital, 29 at St Vincent's Hospital, 19 at St James' Hospital, seven at Beaumont Hospital and seven at Temple St Childrens' Hospital.

Speaking today, INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha, said:“We saw record trolley figures this week, as predicted by the INMO, due to pressures on hospitals following Storm Emma. The INMO requested an emergency two-week period which the HSE were not willing to implement.  This massive surge in attendance at ED Departments was predictable and known to the HSE. Any reasonable and responsible employer and service provider would have sought by any means available to them to minimise these risks to patient and staff safety. It is not possible for the hospitals, or staff, to continue to provide safe care under these conditions. The INMO are calling for emergency status to be immediately declared and emergency response plans put into operation.”