Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda
Local TD Gerry Adams has called on HIQA to investigate the situation at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
The Sinn Féin leader’s plea comes at a time when concern is growing over overcrowding in hospitals across the State.
Figures published this weeks showed that new records were set for the number of patients in trolleys and on hospital wards waiting on a bed.
On each occasion the Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was the biggest offender and Adams feels the issue must be addressed.
“There are serious safety concerns about conditions at Our Lady of Lourdes with the Emergency Department witnessing very severe overcrowding,” he said.
“Figures today from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, reveal 42 patients waiting on admission, with 37 of these lying on trolleys.
“This is the highest number of inpatients without beds in any hospital in this state. The situation clearly puts enormous pressure on the Emergency Department and represents a threat to patient safety and welfare.
“In 2011 along with my party colleague Peadar Toibin TD and Dr Ruairi Hanley, I wrote to HIQA raising similar concerns and asking the Authority to carry out an investigation. That was not done.
“I have today again written to HIQA to ask them to launch a full safety assessment of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and the potential risk it represents to patients and to publish its findings immediately.”
