Lack of planning caused current hospital crisis, says Shortall

The Government must provide realistic alternatives to attending emergency departments currently struggling due to the upsurge in patients, Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall TD said.

The party’s health spokesperson said the Government was not prepared for the uptick in Covid, flu, and RSV cases this winter.

“Even after the publication of the HSE’s winter plan, there was a sense of unreality about it, with no real prospect of reaching the targets set,” she said.

“The current advice is that you should not go to an ED unless it is absolutely essential. However, the reality is that many people have no other option.

“Healthcare is a service that must be provided 24/7.

“Out-of-hours GP services are operating on a skeleton basis and are not an adequate alternative to an emergency department.

“Similarly, integrated care hubs and minor injury clinics are not open after 8pm at night.

“The Department of Health must concentrate on providing realistic alternatives, including the employment of GPs in the evenings and throughout the night.

“There is now a very serious crisis within our hospitals and many patients are being failed.

“This includes the almost one million people on waiting lists, increasing numbers of whom are seeing their procedures postponed.”

Deputy Shortall says the HSE could requisition additional private beds as an immediate short-term measure to help alleviate the problem.

“The Government must also redouble its efforts to fill the almost 900 consultant vacancies within our health service,” she says.

“At any one time, there are around 600 people in acute hospital beds who are ready to be discharged but there is no homecare available for them.

“This makes no sense at all and highlights the need to invest in homecare and stepdown beds in local communities.

“Lack of planning and accountability lie at the heart of this current crisis. The situation in our hospitals is dire at the moment and is likely to get worse in the weeks ahead.”