Patients seen removing their own drips, stressed-out nurses and bumper-to-bumper trollies – the scenes of chaos which are currently taking over the Accident and Emergency Unit at Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar.
They were the scenes which greeted Westmeath Topic on Monday morning of this week, 13 April, during a walkabout of the accident and emergency unit of the hospital, which has been in the extreme upper tier of nationwide trolley figures for the past number of months.
“We don’t blame the nurses, it’s entirely the system which is at fault,” said the concerned wife of her 72-year old husband. “We were in A&E last week and we were told to go home and now we’re back here again. You can see the nurses are doing their best but unfortunately it’s not helping patients.”
Another concerned visitor was catering for her 89-year-old mother, who had been placed on a trolley overnight, in the crowded corridors of the unit. “We arrived on Sunday might and she hasn’t been moved since,” said the patient’s daughter, who was concerned about her mother’s position along the corridors of the unit. “I wouldn’t dream of leaving her in the corridor on her own overnight, for fear of what might happen”
They are two examples of a hospital which has been experiencing record levels of trolley figures. The figures at the hospital are matching and in some cases exceeding those of larger hospitals in the Dublin city. Last Thursday, 9 April, the hospital had 35 people on trollies – the highest number in Ireland for that particular day.
NEW NURSING POSTS
With the chaotic scenes and shortage of nursing staff has made working conditions difficult, with some nurses reportedly on stress leave at present.
The latest announcement by the HSE to renege on it’s promise of hiring nursing staff will likely add to unworkable conditions at the A&E unit.
TD’S VOICE ANGER
TD’s Robert Troy and Gabrielle McFadden have both condemned the decision by the HSE regarding the hiring of 90 nurses.
“Judging from the reply that I have received from the HSE it is evident that 90 positions will not be made available, but instead a considerably smaller number will be allocated. The original allocation as promised by the Government has been dramatically reduced and it is putting the future of the hospital at risk,” said Deputy Troy, who also praised the work of the nurses at the hospital. “Mullingar General Hospital is often highlighted as being a high performing hospital and staff are credited by all that deal with the facility. The Government must recognise this and stop treating the nurses with such lack of respect. The issue of staffing shortages and overcrowding has presented serious challenges for patients and the staff of the hospital. The staff are doing their utmost to maintain standards of care but the Government is making it difficult at every opportunity.”
Deputy McFadden said that the HSE must honour its agreement to provide 90 nursing posts at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar. “It is extremely disappointing to learn that issues have arisen around the provision of new nursing posts urgently required for Mullingar Hospital. “Current staff at the hospital continue to work under very difficult circumstances and are doing a tremendous job in spite of this.”
COMMUNICATION
The HSE have remained silent on the matter of the hiring of new nurses. “As there are ongoing discussions between the parties, it would not be appropriate to comment at this time.” – The brief answer given to Westmeath Topic, when they contacted the hospitals Communications Manager.
Communication between the hospital and the public has proven difficult, with all enquiries being handled by the HSE’s Dublin Mid-Leinster Communications Manager in Tullamore. “You’ll have to go through official channels in Tullamore if you want any information about this hospital,” said one nursing official at the hospital, who refused to answer any questions on the situation at the hospital
VACANT BEDS
Westmeath Topic have learned that there are sufficient beds available at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar to cater for those on trollies, however due to hospital policy, patients with varying conditions cannot be placed in the same ward. “There are currently no vacant or closed beds in the Hospital, ” said a spokesperson for the HSE, when contacted on Monday.
CRITICAL TALKS
Ahead of Thursday’s critical talks between the INMO and the HSE at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), Derek Reilly said he met with Mullingar staff on Tuesday to update them on the talks, and ascertain their final position. “The position is, to honour the agreement that is there, we are not sitting down to draw up a new agreement, so this meeting could be for half an hour or all day,” he said. “We want the HSE to resolve matters. It would be totally wrong to renegotiate the deal. The extra nursing staff are needed in the hospital and town, and the HSE must deliver.”
