Record Number Of Hospital Patients On Trolleys In 2011

– Overall increase of 14% to 86,481

– December figure shows welcome reduction of 13%

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s (INMO) trolley watch survey, for 2011 (see attached), has confirmed that it was the worst year, for patients on trolleys, since the Organisation commenced maintaining records in 2004.

The figures confirm that 86,481 patients, who had been admitted to hospital, were left on a trolley waiting for a hospital bed. This represents an increase of 14% over the 2010 figure of 75,859. The annual survey, which was considered in detail by the INMO’s Executive Council at its recent meeting, also confirmed the following:

– the number of patients on trolleys, in the greater Dublin area, actually fell, when compared to 2010, by 2,188 or 6 %;

– the level of overcrowding, in hospitals outside of Dublin, increased significantly, year on year, by 12,810 or 33%;

– the figures also confirm the dramatic increase in the number of patients on trolleys, in many hospitals, particularly:

– Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda – 114%

– Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan – 224%

– St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny – 639%

– University Hospital, Galway – 59%

– Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar – 67%

– Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore –142%

– Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise –352%

– Wexford General Hospital – 52%

The INMO Executive Council, in its consideration of these figures, also noted, and welcomed, the 13% reduction in the number of patients on trolleys during the month of December when compared to December 2010. In this regard the Executive Council acknowledges the efforts, and initiatives, spearheaded by the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), in the Department of Health, in providing additional supports and resources to allow for this improvement.

The Executive Council is now calling upon the Minister for Health to further revise the Annual Service Plan for 2012 (published Monday). This revision must allow the Special Delivery Unit continue this work with particular emphasis on protecting the earmarked funding, which allows for the opening of closed (low acuity) beds in some hospitals, and additional community supports which are due to end on February 29^th.

The survey results also confirm that there are now 2,299 public beds (acute and non acute) closed across the country (see attached list). This represents an increase of 627 beds which have been closed since this time last year. The announcement, in the service plan, that a further 555 non acute beds will close in 2012, taken with the inevitable closure of acute beds arising from the funding allocated in the service plan, will seriously exacerbate the existing critical bed shortage.

Speaking on the annual survey results, INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said:

“The INMO identified, in mid 2011, that the numbers on trolleys were at record levels and were now a daily reality in some hospitals that had previously avoided this indignity to patients. It is a reality that this level of overcrowding was as a direct result of a combination of increased demand for treatment, bed closures, cutbacks in community services and difficulties with the Fair Deal scheme.

Against this very stark background the INMO welcomes the reduction, in patients on trolleys, in December. This reduction came about as a result of the opening of closed beds, ring fenced funding for some community supports and the prioritisation of this problem, by local management, under the direction of the new Special Delivery Unit. This work is welcome and must be continued throughout 2012”

Mr Doran concluded:

“The Service Plan for 2012 will have serious implications for frontline services and, by extension, the overcrowding that occurs in hospital emergency departments.

This is the 4^th consecutive year of a real, and substantial, reduction in funding, for our public health service. It is a situation which cannot continue as, regardless of improved efficiencies and new forms of service delivery, both the quality and quantity, of health services will be negatively impacted.

The INMO, in the context of the trolley watch figures we are publishing today, reaffirms its call upon the Minister and the Government to think again about giving greater protection to the public health service.

Every person using our public health service is particularly vulnerable and, regardless of funding difficulties, the system cannot compromise with regard to the provision of safe care through safe practice which fully meets their needs.”

Bed Closures Around The Country As Of January 18, 2012

Annual Trolley Watch Analysis 2006 – 2011

Increase in 2011 compared to 2010: 14%

Increase in 2011 compared to 2009: 36%

Increase in 2011 compared to 2008: 46%

Increase in 2011 compared to 2007: 72%

Increase in 2011 compared to 2006: 55%

Trolley Watch Analysis December 2010/2011

Decrease in December 2011 compared to December 2010 of 13%