Published: Friday, 22nd January, 2010 11:30am

HSE disputes union claim of 77 Tullamore bed closures

The Health Service Executive has disputed claims by the nurses' union that 77 beds have closed in the Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore.

On Wednesday, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation released a statement detailing the number of beds closed in every hospital in the country and the number of people waiting on trolleys - which had reached 500.

At Tullamore, the INMO said that there were 77 beds closed in the hospital and six people were waiting on trolleys. However, a spokesperson for the HSE Midlands insisted yesterday (Thursday) that the beds figure was incorrect.

"When the hospital moved over to the new facility it was done so on a like for like basis, therefore operating with a bed complement of 203. Of that figure, 188 beds are open so therefore there are currently 15 beds closed. The hospital significantly exceeded its service plan targets for 2009 and is confident it will achieve service plan targets for 2010," said the statement.

These 15 beds are the ones that were closed last June and July, because of a "historical" reduction in the demand for services during the summer months.

Tullamore Hospital rarely has patients waiting on trolleys, however on Wednesday there were six, according to the INMO "trolley watch" figures.

The INMO's regional rep Lorraine Monaghan said yesterday (Thursday) that the 77 beds included the number that never re-opened when the hopsital moved to the new site and said that this was a "disgrace".

The HSE spokesperson said the emergency department was "very busy" this week due to four main factors; the number of people requiring admission is higher than normal, the demand for services is also above normal levels due to the number of people being treated from injuries caused by the recent snow and ice, hospitals have been endeavouring to meet this extra demand while minimising the impact on elective procedures which recommenced following the Christmas break and the current outbreak of the winter vomiting bug in hospitals and nursing homes is impacting across the system.

"Together these factors are having an impact on the number of people who are waiting in emergency departments for treatment and admission," she said.

"The HSE regrets the inconvenience that waiting for admission can cause for patients. We wish to assure patients that staff, many of whom have been working particularly hard during recent weeks due to the extra demands caused by adverse weather, are endeavouring to minimise the inconvenience that may arise."

The spokesperson added that the INMO figures are taken at 8am before the consultant rounds at the hospital, which take place at 2pm.

However, the nurses' union has described the overcrowding as "unprecedented" and said it is likely to continue for two to three months.

The INMO is receiving daily accounts of "very elderly patients" waiting very long hours in appalling conditions, sometimes on chairs because there are no trolleys available.

Dave Hughes, the INMO Deputy General Secretary, called for Government action to re-open closed beds in the hospitals affected by such overcrowding and to allow the HSE employ staff to look after the patients.

"The combination of the worst weather conditions experienced in Ireland for over 40 years, the unprecedented public finance crisis, the legacy of delayed discharge of patients and the shortage of medical doctors, are all conspiring to worsen what unfortunately has become a regular feature of overcrowding in emergency departments in the busiest acute hospitals," said Mr Hughes.

He said that the misery being imposed on patients, and the staff trying to care for them, is shameful.