Fears for Cork hospitals ahead of snow and ice warning

A healthcare union have shared concerns for patients in Cork city hospitals as a yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for tomorrow by Met Éireann.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called on the HSE to outline how it plans to ensure that emergency care will be prioritised in Cork during the Status Yellow weather warning.

Between Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital 55 patients are on trolleys in the city today, the INMO’s daily figures show, with 899 people having been treated on trolleys in the two hospitals so far this month.

INMO Assistant Director for Industrial Relations Colm Porter said: “With a snow and ice warning now in effect for County Cork, the HSE must outline what immediate steps they are taking to ensure that emergency care is prioritised across the city and county.

“There are a substantial number of patients on trolleys in CUH and the Mercy today. When both emergency departments are at capacity, there is no release valve to ease pressure.

“The HSE should take immediate action to ensure that those who need emergency care can get it, ensuring that senior clinical decision-makers are on site and the cancellation of all non-urgent care are steps that can be taken to ease the pressure across both hospitals in the city.”