|
|
Hospital struggles as flu outbreak worsens
08.01.09
MANAGEMENT at
Letterkenny General Hospital are expecting further
disruption to services following the worst outbreak
of flu and other winter illnesses in nearly ten
years.
All planned operations were cancelled yesterday as
staff struggled to cope with an influx of patients
to A&E with flu, the winter vomiting bug and other
respiratory illnesses.
Management were also forced to reopen the short stay
ward because of bed shortages. Less vulnerable
patients presenting with flu-like symptoms were
urged to instead attend their family doctor. |
|
The Health Protection
Surveillance Centre yesterday confirmed that the
level of influenza-like illness around the country
is the highest seen since the winter of 2000-2001.
During the first week of January, more than 100
people out of every 100,000 had been diagnosed with
influenza or |
 |
an influenza-like
illness, according to the latest figures. The agency
urged people in high-risk categories, such as the
65s and children with chronic conditions, to get
vaccinated. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Councillor Pádraig
MacLochlainn described as ‘unacceptable’ the numbers
of patients left waiting on trolleys and chairs as
outlined in latest figures from the Irish Nurses'
Organisation.
The figures showed that on Tuesday, a total of 22
patients were left waiting, without a hospital bed
in Letterkenny General Hospital. The situation was
being exacerbated by an outbreak of winter flu-like
and respiratory illnesses.
“On March 29 Health Minister Mary Harney described
the A&E situation as a national emergency. On that
day there were 384 people on trolleys," said Cllr
MacLochlainn. "This week, nearly three years later,
this figure has increased to a staggering 425
patients on trolleys according to the INO Trolley
Watch figures for January 6, 2009."
He said the Government and Ms Harney had failed to
address this national emergency.
"They are now content to allow numbers further
increase with the North West getting the brunt of
their inaction. Of the 425 on trolleys 97 of these
patients were in hospitals in the North West," added
the Buncrana-based councillor and EU election
candidate. |
|
