Number of patients on trolleys in Tallaght Hospital double overnight

AS THE country faces a flu epidemic, Tallaght Hospital is already experiencing a “high level” of emergency admissions – with the number of patients on trolleys almost doubling overnight from 23 on Wedneday to 45 this morning.

The HSE has, in recent days, warned that the country faces a flu epidemic after rates of illness doubled in the space of one week.

The number of people lying on trolleys across the country’s hospitals has also spiked in recent days, with the INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation) reporting a record number of 612 patients on trolleys nationwide on Tuesday, January 3.

In Dublin, on the same day, 22 patients were on trolleys in Tallaght Hospital, 17 in the Mater, 14 in Beaumont, 19 in St Vincent’s and six in St James’s – with 23 people on trolleys in Tallaght the following day, Wednesday, January 4.

However, these numbers almost doubled this morning to 45.

Additional figures released this week by the INMO also report that Tallaght Hospital had 4,166 people on trolleys last year, 552 less than the 4,718 patients on trolleys in the local health facility in 2015.

Tallaght Hospital has the biggest emergency department in the country when you combine paediatrics and adult, with A&E attendances jumping from 40,242 in 2011 to 45,236 in 2015 – an increase of 12 per cent in just four years.

However, despite this, the local hospital’s trolley figures for 2016 are not the highest among the major Dublin hospitals, with Beaumont last year placing 6,130 people on trolleys, St Vincent’s 4,836, the Mater 4,473, Connolly in Blanchardstown 2,698 and St James’s 1,851.

In a statement to The Echo this week, Tallaght Hospital said: “Current bed capacity pressures are underpinned by a 10 per cent increase in adult emergency department attendances but despite this and the increase for demand for isolation beds, the hospital has reduced trolleys by 10 per cent – something that we will continue to focus on in 2017.

“The hospital is still experiencing significant challenges with delayed discharges.

“These are patients who are medically fit to be discharged but have nowhere to go.

“This number is higher than the norm for this time of year.”

Added pressure is being placed on hospitals as winter-related illnesses, such as influenza, respiratory illness and winter vomiting bug, increase significantly, with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) warning that this escalation is expected to continue until at least the end of February.

Describing the outbreak of infections as “a very challenging period of time” for Ireland’s health service, Health Minister Simon Harris has asked people at risk to get the flu vaccine from their local GP or pharmacist.

According to the HPSC, one person has died due to influenza this winter, with latest statistics showing that a total of 96 people have been hospitalised for influenza so far in the 2016/2017 winter season – with the majority of those hospitalised 65 years and older.

Tallaght Hospital told The Echo: “Tallaght Hospital, along with other hospitals around the country, has seen a high level of emergency admissions in recent days primarily due to increasing numbers of influenza and norovirus illnesses in the community.

“The hospital’s full capacity protocol is in place and the public is asked to attend their GP in the first instance where appropriate.

“We apologise for any delays in waiting times as patients in the Emergency Department are prioritised according to clinical need.”

The HSE has advised people with flu-like symptoms to drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and eat healthily, with most people able to treat symptoms at home.

Anybody at risk of complications from the flu are advised to contact their GP.

The HSE has asked people with symptoms of winter vomiting bug not to visit or attend hospitals or GP surgeries.

For further information visit www.hse.ie or talk to your GP or local pharmacist.