HSE Dublin and South East hospitals experiencing high levels of activity

Hospitals in the HSE Dublin and South East are currently challenged with high patient volumes and increasing complexity of care.

We acknowledge the numbers of patients awaiting admission on a trolley in our emergency departments in the region and in some cases on hospital wards are high this week. This is not the standard of care that we want for patients of our services and we regret that any patient would have to wait for a hospital bed in this way. This is a patient safety issue.

We know that reducing the length of time that patients wait to be admitted to a hospital bed leads to improved clinical outcomes. This is a priority for all HSE Dublin and South East hospitals and we are committed to ensuring our most vulnerable patients receive safe, timely and high-quality care.

Regionally, Wexford General Hospital and Tipperary University Hospitals are extremely busy this week and are experiencing significantly high levels of activity with large numbers of people presenting to the Emergency Department (ED).

Dr Vida Hamilton, Regional Clinical Director, HSE Dublin and South East, said: “Many people attending need to be admitted for ongoing treatment, which is leading to pressure on bed availability. However, we are doing everything we can to optimise the flow of patients through our hospitals. People who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may experience long waiting times.

“We are acutely aware that even one person on a trolley is too many and reducing trolley figures continues to be a particular focus at our hospitals. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will be available for patients, who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity. Staff are doing everything possible to reduce waiting times and maintain accessibility.

We are asking everyone to work with our hardworking teams planning discharge and consider all your options. Patients will only be discharged from our hospitals to their home or to further care when it is medically appropriate to do so. If someone is reluctant to move on from a bed when the acute phase of their treatment is finished to a convalescent or rehabilitation setting not only does it mean they are not getting the correct care in the best setting for them but it also it means that someone else could face a delay in accessing acute and emergency care.”

We acknowledge that these delays are difficult for patients and their families and apologise for the inconvenience and distress this causes.

We are asking people to consider their care options. If your health problem is not an emergency, you should contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the GP out of hours service, in the first instance.