Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise again the issue of Sligo University Hospital where 50 people are on trolleys today. There were 41 on trolleys yesterday. In the past week there have been over 30 people on trolleys. Bed capacity is central to this issue. There is a proposal from the hospital to build a new 50-bed unit. Deputy Tony McLoughlin and I met the Minister last week and while he has said he wants to progress that, we need action right now to resolve the problem. As for what can be done right now, there are two advanced nurse practitioners in the accident and emergency department. They carry out work such as treating cuts and bruises and small injuries with which people come into the hospital. The hospital has applied to have two more advanced nurse practitioners appointed and that request has been turned down twice. If that were done, it would relieve the situation immediately in the accident and emergency department in Sligo University Hospital. It is a practical solution to the problem. It will not resolve it but it is something that needs to happen and can happen right now if those appointments were approved.

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