Overcrowding 'at dangerous levels' in Naas Hospital, say nurses
Nurses at Naas General Hospital in Co Kildare have warned they may be forced into industrial action due to the deterioration of conditions at the hospital.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation served notice of action in mid-September, but put a stay on it because of some improvements implemented by hospital management.
However, the group said overcrowding at the emergency department has worsened to dangerous levels.
Speaking to Kfm, INMO spokesperson, Derek Reilly said: "Naas is in crisis again…There are 32 patients in the emergency department on trollies and another 10 in another department. It's becoming very unsafe again."
He called for 30 closed beds to be reopened at the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has expressed concern about the level of overcrowding at the emergency department in Galway University Hospital.
The INMO says there are 52 patients on trolleys awaiting a bed. Thirty-four of these patients are in the emergency department.
The organisation said overcrowding continues even though the full capacity protocol was invoked yesterday to relieve the situation.
Nurses say conditions are the hospital are "almost unbearable" for staff and patients alike.
The INMO has called on the Health Minister Dr James Reilly to intervene and open up closed beds with adequate staffing to alleviate the overcrowding.
