Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major importance, namely, the failure to utilise the 26 elderly assessment beds lying idle since 2001 in Mayo General Hospital, together with the two palliative care beds lying idle at the hospital since 2001 also, due to the failure to recruit nurses because of the recruitment ceiling while 14 elderly people requiring beds for acute illnesses lie on trolleys for days downstairs in the accident and emergency ward. They are too ill for nursing home beds and are occupying the circulation areas of the accident and emergency ward, so through no fault of their own they are interfering with the proper running of accident and emergency services in the hospital.

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