James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

So far this year, more than 100,000 patients have gone without a hospital bed and instead waited on a trolley in an emergency department. Almost 14,000 people over the age of 75 have endured waits in emergency departments of more than 24 hours. The plan for winter 2019-20 provides for no additional acute beds or front-line hospital staff. Emergency medical staffing levels are below international comparators and safe staffing levels. Hospital bed occupancy is 97% or higher, and is 104% in model 4 hospitals. Delayed discharges are a significant factor. In County Wexford, 754 people are on the waiting list for a home care package. That is more than in all neighbouring counties combined. Inexplicably, there is nobody on a waiting list in the Carlow-Kilkenny area next door. I would like an explanation as to how that is possible because it is having a very serious impact on the numbers waiting in hospitals. The public health system appears to be broken. These waiting lists are not normal or acceptable.

With regard to mental health, we have had report after report on overcrowding in our mental health services from the Inspector of Mental Health Services. A couple of weeks ago, a 16 year old spent 40 hours in the emergency department in University Hospital Waterford. He spent 24 of those hours on a chair with a blanket over his head to hide from the light and noise, which were distressing him. That is totally unacceptable. We have also seen reports of what overcrowding has done to the department of psychiatry in Waterford. People are sleeping on floors and chairs. This is totally unacceptable. When will hospital overcrowding be addressed?

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