Additional treatment bays needed urgently in Portiuncula

Additional treatment bays are key in preventing overcrowding and expediting care in Portiuncula Hospital, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Aisling Dolan has highlighted that Portiuncula University Hospital is under severe pressure with over a hundred people a day presenting at the Emergency Department (ED).

“We are reaching peak flu season and extremely high numbers of people coming to the hospital mainly with severe respiratory symptoms. We have very sick older people in the hospital right now.

“As a champion for the hospital for investment and funding, I am calling on the HSE to prioritise the opening of these additional treatment bays in the next year as the ED of Portiuncula University Hospital is under huge pressure.

“I have also advocated strongly over the past 2 years to have nine additional treatment bays for the Emergency Department included in the HSE Capital Plan and over €6.9 million has been allocated however it is not due to open until 2027.

“I’ve spoken to our managers in the hospital who have put measures into place with surge beds opened in the former multi-bed ward to help manage the numbers of people coming into ED however we are still seeing huge numbers of sick people on trolleys. Families from Galway, Roscommon, Athlone, Westmeath, Offaly and North Tipperary have loved ones in the hospital here, it takes in a huge catchment area.

“Hospital Managers have noted that 24 overflow beds are in the former multi bed wards, and we also have single en-suite rooms which help reduce infection-- with half of the rooms currently open situated in the 50-bed ward block and the new 12-bed Dunlo Ward.

“We need to also be conscious of not spreading the flu within the hospital, for so many older patients who are sick with multiple conditions. One visitor per patient during this time of peak flu season is a way to prevent the spread of flu to both older patients and staff.

“We all want to see loved ones over the Christmas and New Year break however if anyone in the family is feeling sick with chesty wheezy coughs, it may be best to delay the visit to Portiuncula until everyone is feeling better. A persistent cough for one visitor may lead to serious symptoms for older patients.

“Many of our excellent healthcare staff are also susceptible to the flu and this puts more pressure on the hospital in terms of staffing. I know many of our frontline healthcare and emergency staff do trojan work over the holiday period and also many agency staff who step in to assist our sick patients.

“If people are sick with flu, think about going to GP and pharmacy in the first instance and avoid the Emergency Department where possible,” Senator Dolan concluded.