Skip to content
2004

The public will not be fooled by election promises on accident and emergency crisis

Date Released: 11 Nov 2004

A few concessions coming up to election time will not fool the public, the users or the staff working in accident and emergency units around the country, warned SIPTU Nursing Official, Oliver McDonagh.

"We are calling on the Minister for Health and Children, Mary Harney, to take constructive steps to deal with the real issues surrounding the accident and emergency crisis once and for all," said Mr. McDonagh.

"A few more medical cards or a few more beds will not be enough to make a lasting difference to the root causes of over crowding in A&E units in Ireland.

"SIPTU Nursing is calling for the introduction of medical assessment units to relieve the pressure on emergency services; the setting up of 'minor injury' clinics; a reasonable supply of 'step-down' beds for recovery and rehabilitation - both inside and outside the hospitals. Availability of beds alone will not cure the problem but is a necessary part of the solution.

"It is acknowledged that one of the main causes of bottlenecks in A&E units is the lack of proper homecare and external facilities for older people - many of whom remain in hospital because they cannot look after themselves in their own homes. We can expect this problem to worsen as winter approaches and would urge the Minister to reverse the savage cuts on home help services introduced in the last Budget and to use these services to look after people in their own homes.

"The Minister must also be prepared to tackle the cost of primary health care. Some people simply cannot afford the cost of going to a GP or a privately operated primary care unit. For them, the only alternative is to go to an A&E unit. An affordable primary care service would be of major benefit to the economy and people would not wait until their illness was so serious before going to a doctor.

"A best practice management review should be undertaken in all hospitals to help identify why some hospitals are coping better than others. We have seen the growth of specialist and advanced practice training for nurses enabling them to perform certain aspects of care which are currently being left to doctors and consultants. Utilising such skills has led to an easing of the crisis in A&E units in certain hospitals.

"Finally, the recruitment and retention of nurses in A&E units is still a major problem. Some additional remuneration must be made available for those who have to work in Dublin in particular, as well an increase in pay and conditions for nurses throughout the country

"In the run-up to the next election, the public must see clear and tangible progress on all of these issues. Anything less will be seen for what it is - electioneering. We demand that concrete steps are taken now to give us a modern and effective health service," he concluded.





Previous and Next: 2005 | Archived News Releases