Dublin: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is urgently calling for comprehensive measures to safeguard the well-being of both patients and healthcare workers, particularly nurses, in hospitals. This urgent plea follows a distressing surge in the number of individuals awaiting treatment on hospital trolleys, reaching a concerning 626.
The country is grappling with a rise in flu and other illnesses, contributing to uncontrolled overcrowding that is pervasive across various hospitals nationwide. This critical situation is anticipated to exacerbate in the upcoming week, potentially bringing hospitals to a standstill. Patients admitted without proper bed facilities are experiencing considerable hardship, while hospital staff, especially nurses, are facing unprecedented challenges and threats to their safety.
General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha expressed serious concern about the escalating number of respiratory infections posing a direct threat to the lives of nurses. Immediate intervention is deemed imperative to address this precarious situation and guarantee the safety of healthcare professionals. Ni Sheaghdha emphasised that the surge in trolley patients is not confined to larger hospitals but is also affecting smaller healthcare facilities, putting patients’ lives at significant risk.
Anticipating a further increase in cases, particularly of RSV, COVID, and influenza, the General Secretary stressed the urgency of reducing the number of trolley patients to ensure the safety of both patients and staff, especially in the most strained hospitals.
Ni Sheaghdha called for the elimination of obstacles hindering patient care and demanded the assurance of staff safety. The INMO General Secretary urged immediate action from hospital groups, the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the government to address these pressing concerns and make decisions promptly to ensure the well-being of all involved.
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