Glynn calls on Minister Reilly to deal with overcrowding at Mullingar Hospital A & E

 

 

Posted by Cllr.Ken Glynn on 08/05/2012

Early last month I raised my concerns over the serious overcrowding at Mullingar Regional Hospital Accident and Emergency Department,as a result Mullingar Town Council wrote to Minister Reilly which has been acknowledged since. But that's all that has happened as I again received a phone call from a distraught relative of a seriously sick person who spent over 24 hours on a hospital trolley. This is a scandalous situation which has not improved in recent times.The Government did inherit many problems but this was one issue they said they would improve but instead it has got worse and there is no improvement in sight.

In 2009 Mullingar Hospital received a budget of €64 million but this year only a budget of €55 million but are still providing the same front line services if not more in the present day.I do appreciate we are in very difficult times but this hospital is one of the most efficient hospitals in the country with the second highest birth rate outside Dublin plus with over 33,000 people attending A and E,but staff are been heavily stretched.Last month I was made aware of a separate case where somebody spent 18 hours on a trolley,this is stressful for the patient,their family and the staff.The closure of services in Roscommon hospital has had a major impact and while the Hse say its bringing 6 patients on a daily basis extra I believe that figure is much higher and action is needed now.

The Staff of Mullingar Hospital must be complimented for their dedication and hard work but this issue is putting a strain on both staff and patients alike,so I repeat my call that Minister Reilly Intervene immediately and have asked Deputy Robert Troy to once raise in the Dail once again as soon as possible.