Nurses hit out at hospital's response to offer
Angry nurses branded a Dublin hospital a disgrace today after it turned down an offer from the public of temporary accommodation to help ease the overcrowding crisis.
The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said it was “disgusted and saddened” after representatives for the Mater Hospital said it could not accept the offer of temporary fully fitted accommodation from RTE radio’s Liveline listeners.
Dave Hughes, INO deputy general secretary, said: “The response of the Mater was little short of a disgrace but unfortunately is consistent with the Health Service Executive’s inaction in the face of the ever-increasing accident and emergency crisis.”
The radio programme yesterday received offers of furniture, fittings and services valued at tens of thousands of euro from businesses and members of the public.
The hospital said it could not accept the “kind offer” of E30,000 worth of Portakabins due to patient safety issues and the need to access and integrate various facilities like resuscitation and x-rays.
Mr Hughes said the Government’s 10-point plan to end the hundreds of people waiting on trolleys for treatment around the country had not been delivered on.
The INO said it welcomed the response of Liveline listeners as an indication that people have realised the extent of the A&E problem on the back of the INO’s ongoing protest campaign.
The organisation yesterday reported that there were 28 patients on trolleys awaiting beds at the Mater Hospital.
Mr Hughes said emergency temporary measures must be implemented rather than waiting for the 10-point plan to deliver.
