Trolley figures in CUH rise again despite measures to increase capacity

The numbers on trolleys in Cork University Hospital have risen again, following a brief decline in the past week.

The numbers of people on trolleys in CUH had fallen to 12 on Monday 5 February, a sharp decline from figures in the 40s the previous week.

This morning’s HSE report shows that there are 44 patients on trolleys again, though a spokesperson for the hospital explains steps are being taken to free up capacity.

Professor Conor Deasy, the Clinical Director of Emergency and Acute Care at CUH told The Echo, “Big efforts are being made in Cork to reduce the numbers of patients waiting on trolleys for an inpatient bed.

“Every effort is made to help people get discharged as safely and efficiently as possible realising that there is a sick patient in the emergency department needing that ward bed as soon as it is vacated.” 

He explained, “New state of the art beds have been opened in Mallow General Hospital which is part of Cork University Hospital Group and have been vital in reducing the numbers of patients on trolleys.

“The South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital has played a very important part in the last 5 weeks in providing beds to patients of Cork but it has come at the cost of cancelling certain operations which will need to be accommodated in the near future.

“The HSE has also bought capacity at the Bons Secours and Mater Private hospitals and in a nursing home in Riverstick,” he added.

However, Deasy acknowledged that “Despite all these important efforts we still have far too many patients on trolleys in our Cork Emergency Departments,” and called for more investment in the hospital.

“Cork University Hospital needs a seismic investment in bed capacity if it is to provide modern dignified healthcare to the patients it is there to serve,” he concluded.