“Waiting Times Putting Patients Lives at Risk at CUH” – Toomey
Speaking today, Mr Toomey said “Last night, I spent 7hrs in A&E with a family member waiting in CUH A&E. On entering A&E, we were met by two people for registration and one security officer, no one was allowed to accompany the patient in. In A&E, patients with drips were forced to sit on chairs in corridors. In the end, my relative received pain relief from the nurses and left when the pain reduced, without seeing a doctor. This is unacceptable, yet it has become too common an experience. "Through parliamentary questions, Aontú have discovered that a staggering 17,247 people left CUH A&E without being seen in the last 5 years. With last year having the highest number at 4,445 people."
Mr Toomey “The crisis at CUH is becoming unworkable. Last year CUH reached a record number of patients waiting for beds. This is the consequence of complete Government underinvestment in our health care services. Staff at CUH are under-resourced and overworked. Studies have shown that waiting times of 5 hours or more are linked to a heightened death risk. The report found that there is 1 extra death for every 82 patients delayed between 6 to 8 hours. Government inaction on the A&E crisis at CUH is putting people’s lives at risk.”
“There are 6,000 fewer hospital beds compared to 2008, a shortage of 200 ICU beds, there are 30% too few GPs and our health system lacks 700 consultants. Staggeringly, despite all this, over the course of 15 years, the government has shut down 8 A&Es.”
“Aontú are calling for the Government to urgently increase investment in CUH A&E to make sure that it’s fit to serve our community” concluded Mr Toomey CRÍOCH
