Overcrowding in hospitals

[Taytocrisps]

This makes the headlines every winter but it seems to be chronic this winter. I hope lives aren't lost because people in need of treatment heed the warnings and decide to put off going to A&E.

This definitely has resulted in patients dying. Many A&E’s don’t have adequate staffing levels and when staff are under pressure mistakes are made or else patients conditions deteriorate.
The entire healthcare system including GP’s, step down facilities and hospitals need to be looked at and reform is needed across the board. The problem isn’t money it goes far deeper then that. The working conditions for the medical staff must be horrendous and they contribute to many doctors and nurses leaving for roles in other countries.

The population has increased and the number of GPs is declining so a lot of people cannot register with a GP so some will end up with no choice but go to A&E.

A&E nurses are saying it could be 8 or 9 hours before those presenting at A&E are having a re-assessment while they're waiting to be treated.

I was admitted with sepsis earlier in the year to one of the bigger hospitals, was left sitting for a couple of hours. Corridor was lined with trollies, lots of very elderly people. Corridor was narrow so hard for staff to get around etc. It really was like something you'd see in a much poorer country. And to think we've been bemoaning the health system for the last 20 to 25 years and absolutely nothing has changed. I don't know what the problem is, lots saying far too much €€€ spent on admin rather than medical staff. But I was truly horrified by the state of the place, felt so sorry for the staff having to work in that environment. Must be soul destroying and very easy to see why so many head off abroad rather than work here.

I think a lot of it is down to bad management. I've had numerous visits to outpatients clinics especially fracture clinics and spent a couple of hours waiting each time. One thing I notices is the number of nurses standing around chatting (not blaming them) as they weren't being utilised efficiently.

Having 6 or 7 nurses who would go to the reception desk pick up some files then put them in the folder outside each examination room and stand around occasionally calling a patient. What a waste of their expertise, 2 or 3 nurses would have been more than enough who could deal with the occasional dressings etc and maybe an admin staff member to fetch the files and call in patients, then put the excess nurses up in the wards where they're needed.

When labour was in power they put in way too many people in suits and middle management and not enough thought to the actual doctors and nurses. GPs should open up fully and see patients. That will stop sick people being forced to their local A&E. The nightingales should open up that should help the problem of bed blocking.

When the HSE got rid of a lot of admin staff the clinicians had to block out many hours of clinical time to write up their notes and referrals. This then causes much longer waiting times.

The admin staff are needed and are under pressure too because some of the positions haven't been filled.

Is it the case that the admin staff aren't being used appropriately? Or is there just not enough staff in the system full stop? All the clinical staff I enountered were overworked, you could have been dealing with a doctor for hours, go to sleep, wake up and the same doctor would still be dealing you. It's a complete disaster, people can't function like that long term. And in such important jobs, literally life and death.

I have to say my GP has been excellent, I couldn't say a bad word about her. She organised a hospital place for me, came to my house with someone from the hospital (it was going to be a long stay). She did everything she could to reassure me, get me in to hospital because she felt I was in danger if I didn't go in. On a previous occasion, i had been left in a hospital corridor for hours with a canula in my hand, i suffer from anxiety and basically freaked out and left the hospital with the canula in my hand. GP came around first thing next morning to take it out. IMO she has gone over and above for me all the time and I very much appreciate it.

You are very lucky to have such a kind GP who goes above and beyond. They are one in a million at the moment. All the GPs in my area have closed the doors and diagnosing over the telephone, and that's if you can get a telephone appointment. It's terrible state of affairs.

I do realise how lucky I am, especially the more I read about others and see/hear the state of things for people in general. My GP has been fantastic. I owe her flowers and a box of chocs tbh.

My GP is excellent and has been seeing patients in person since the first lockdown.

Why do you blame Labour specifically? While they've been in governments more recently there hasn't been a Labour Minister for Health for almost 30 years.