John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I try not to be critical but the Government is failing to deal with the most basic need of a human being when he or she reports ill to a hospital. This is giving them the dignity of a bed in which to receive treatment. As the main hospital in the south-east region, University Hospital Waterford serves a population of about 500,000. Going on figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's trolley watch, its emergency department is frequently one of the most overcrowded hospitals in the country. The figures are reaching new highs. The most recent data shows a massive 278% increase in the number of patients waiting on trolleys in September. Over one weekend alone last month, the accident and emergency department reached full capacity and ambulances had to be diverted to Wexford and Kilkenny, a journey of one hour from Waterford city. I do not need to impress on the Minister the difference an hour can make when somebody is ill, be they critically ill or otherwise.

In recent weeks, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has made claims that due to the recruitment ban, patient care at Waterford has been severely compromised. I want to hear the Minister's view about what the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said and trolley watch. Does he accept that there has been a 278% increase in the number of patients waiting on beds and that patient care at the hospital is being severely compromised?

See this speech in context