Galway Bay fm newsroom – The Emergency Department at University Hospital Galway is in crisis today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
There are currently 38 patients on trolleys awaiting an in-patient bed in and around the Emergency Department and 14 extra on already full wards.
Separately, there are a further 25 patients in the department who have been waiting up to 8 hours to be assessed by an ED doctor due to the lack of cubicles to examine them.
The INMO is calling on Enda Kenny to visit the hospital to see the conditions for himself – he’s due to attend an official engagement in Connemara tomorrow.
The INMO says trolleys are backed up on both sides of the corridor around the department which makes access, privacy and dignity impossible.
There are 4 nurses looking after 38 admitted patients in the ED, while less than 20 patients are likely to be discharged today.
The nurses’ organisation says access to the department is completely compromised and there is no room to physically assess any more ED patients who may turn up at the hospital.
The INMO is calling on the Taoiseach to visit UHG tomorrow – Enda Kenny is due to open a new cultural facility in Connemara tomorrow afternoon.