Nurses in plae over A&E funding
The Government must provide immediate funding in the budget to address overcrowding in Accident and Emergency wards, it was claimed today.
The Irish Nurses’ Organisation demanded urgent initiatives to tackle what it described as a national crisis as it emerged 347 people were waiting on trolleys this morning.
INO General Secretary Liam Doran said the healthy state of the Government’s finances in the run up to the budget meant there is no excuse for not allocating emergency funding to address A&E overcrowding.
He said the money could be used to open available beds and to establish minor injury clinics in other health facilities in major urban areas.
“The Government must immediately address A&E overcrowding, which continues at an intolerable level,” he said.
“The financial resources are now readily available and money can therefore no longer be used as an excuse for inaction.
“The budget on Wednesday must see an emergency allocation of funds that will alleviate the intolerable strain on A&E services.”
Mr Doran said the INO recognises that there are many issues which currently require additional funding, including childcare.
“But the country now has the resources to alleviate the unacceptable situation that continues in A&E departments,” he said.
“What is now required is political will.”
