Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

The accident and emergency trolley issue and hospital bugs are seen as the two major elements of the current emergency. They are very much a symptom of a wider problem, that is, the insufficient number of beds and support staff who should accompany those beds.

I emphasise that the trolley emergency must not be resolved at the expense of the postponement of elective surgery. One aspect I have come across repeatedly and recently is the sheer terror among those awaiting surgery, not just because of the surgery but because of their concern about the probability of their procedure being postponed. It is cruel for a patient to arrange their schedule and emotions around that surgery only for it to be postponed several times. There is a risk that in sorting out one problem, a range of other problems will be created. The same people could ultimately present as acute cases and this must be factored into the resolution of the accident and emergency department crisis.

A total of 24 patients were on trolleys in Naas hospital yesterday while the numbers in Tallaght and Blanchardstown hospitals were 20 and 16, respectively, giving a total of 60 patients on trolleys in the catchment area that includes Kildare. These hospitals cater for one of the fastest growing parts in the State but no planning has taken account of the expanding population in the region and we are experiencing the results of that. We are moving towards a system with a stronger primary care focus, which is the way to go. However, it is not a panacea and a planned response is needed. When people move into an area, new provision must be made.

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