Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise the very serious issue of overcrowding at South Tipperary General Hospital. It is sad that today HIQA has published a report which is very critical. It is not a problem with the staff or management who are overworked and totally overstretched. According to Trolley Watch, emergency department trolley statistics at South Tipperary General Hospital show that it has suffered the most because of the cuts of recent years. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that in March there had been a 100% increase in the number of trolleys and the level of overcrowding nationally compared to the figures in March 2008, when only 4,700 patients were on trolleys. We need to bear in mind constantly that these statistics represent an old person, a sick child or a person with disabilities who are on trolleys in unsuitable surroundings. They are human beings and we must always treat them as such. The medical staff do their best for them. It is, therefore, truly disturbing to have it confirmed that the total number of patients on trolleys in South Tipperary General Hospital this year has increased to 552, 319 more than this time last year. It just gets worse.

Clearly, the establishment of the emergency department task force has done nothing to alleviate the problem. It is a high-powered task force and promises were made about what it would do, but things have got worse. I am glad that the Minister for Health is present. I ask him to look into this matter to see what the task force established by his predecessor is doing. People are being advised to visit their GPs, but GPs are overwhelmed, particularly since the introduction of the free scheme for those aged under six years. They cannot cope. They are on the front line and many of them are operating on 40 year old contracts which are not fit for purpose.

Despite the promises made three years ago that stepdown beds would be provided in Cashel, with almost €20 million spent, they are lying idle. Never mind beds, they do not have pillows or blankets to put on them. The facility could be used to alleviate the immediate problem and the standard of refurbishment is exceptionally. When will this happen? The former Minister of State, Mr. Tom Hayes, announced that it would and I am sure he did not make it up himself. Three years ago he was told by the HSE that it would happen, but nothing has. This cannot go on.

We can thank the former Minister of State, Ms Kathleen Lynch, for the closure of St. Michael's, a psychiatric institution of long-standing, which provided an excellent service in Clonmel on the same campus as the hospital. People must now travel to Kilkenny, and all the patients now present in the emergency department. The former Minister of State was warned about this and we were told other stepdown facilities and crisis accommodation would be provided, which we clearly do not have.

A Vision for Change is not working. I therefore ask the Tánaiste what she will do because the HIQA report is very damning, especially regarding patient safety. I ask the Tánaiste and the Minister beside her what action will be taken immediately.

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