Long waits at Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department ‘alarming’, says Ward

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West, Mark Ward has said that new figures obtained by the party show that an alarming number of patients are waiting more than 24 hours for care at Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department.

There have been 1650 patients waiting over 24 hours for care at Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department so far this year.

The figures , which were obtained from the HSE, suggest that hospital overcrowding is on track to return to pre-pandemic levels this year.

Deputy Ward said that “much more” must be done to ensure that patients at Tallaght Hospital receive high quality and timely care without delays.

“Behind every number is a patient who needed timely care and was left to wait for far too long,” he said.

“The pain and distress caused by these delays is considerable.

“People attend emergency departments because they require urgent care.

“This scandal is happening because of process and leadership failures across the health service.

“Let me be clear, the staff at Tallaght Hospital are doing an incredible job, working under pressure to do their very best to serve our community.

“But they are being let down by a lack of funding, planning and leadership by the government,” Ward said.

“According to the data Sinn Féin has received from the HSE, Emergency Department overcrowding is set to be as severe this year as it was before the pandemic.

“We need an urgent zero tolerance plan for Emergency Department overcrowding and long waits led by the Minister for Health.

“There is no single solution.

“We need capacity put in where it is needed, but just as importantly, essential Sláintecare reforms need to be advanced quickly.

“To respond to the challenge, reducing Emergency Department waits has to be seen as part of wider reform efforts.

“It can only be tackled by investing in community and GP capacity to reduce hospital admissions. A minimalist approach to healthcare reform will not work.”

Improvements Deputy Ward suggest include the launching of Regional Health Areas “with significant autonomy to implement community reforms, deliver capacity expansions, recruit and retain staff, and implement best practice across sites in patient and staff management.

“Every patient should have a discharge plan with a recovery bed in a community setting.

“Patients should be out of hospital quickly, not left languishing on trolleys in random ward corners and corridors.

“Crucially, we need to roll out specialist medical wards and fill the vacant consultant posts.

“A specific plan is needed for Tallaght Hospital.

“The Minister must lead from the front.

“Staff at Tallaght Hospital are working day and night to look after our community, but they aren’t getting the support they need from government.

“Patients at Tallaght Hospital deserve better and I will continue to raise this with the government until the changes needed are delivered.”