Forty-one patients were waiting on trolleys for an in-patient bed in St James's Hospital, Dublin, when its major incident plan was invoked yesterday, the Labour spokeswoman on health, Ms Liz McManus, told the Dáil.
She said clinicians and management at the hospital had taken the decision, as the department could not function, adding that Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) members had described the situation as unsafe.
"I am raising this matter because of my concern, and the concern of those working in our emergency medical services, about the unbearable pressure being experienced in a whole range of accident and emergency departments."
Ms McManus said that while the Minister for Health had promised 3,000 new hospital beds under the health strategy, no money had been allocated for that purpose.
The Minister of State for Health, Mr Brian Lenihan, said accident and emergency departments could be subject to higher attendances at this time of year. "This is mainly due to the high number of patients presenting with circulatory, respiratory and viral conditions, especially among the elderly community. Particular difficulties arise where an increased number of patients require admission to hospital for treatment."
He said he fully understood the demands and pressures placed on staff working in the acute system and very much valued the tremendous work they continued to do.
"The Department has been informed that, at individual hospital level, hospital management is actively involved in working with medical and nursing staff on an ongoing basis in order to deal with the current pressures. In relation to the Dublin hospitals, the Eastern Regional Health Authority has reported that the protocols in place to deal with increased demand on services are being fully adhered to."
Mr Lenihan said the Department had been engaging with senior management in the various health agencies to look for solutions.
The various problems could only be addressed on "a system-wide" basis, he said.
Ms McManus said overcrowding in accident and emergency departments was steadily deteriorating. Two-hundred acute hospital beds were closed, bed blocking was endemic and promises made by the Minister for Health and the health authorities had not been realised.
"On January 13th, the Eastern Regional Health Board promised to reopen 196 acute and non-acute beds. Almost a month has passed, but this has not happened."
