UNIVERSITY Hospital Kerry appears to be in a state of major crisis.
Concerns have been expressed that it will lose its category three status because of a raft of serious problems in most departments with no sign of solutions being found.
Just weeks after outraged nursing staff staged a protest to highlight staff shortages, poor resources and serious overcrowding, it has emerged that several key consultants have now left their posts with claims that patients – many elderly – are spending up to 40 hours on trolleys in corridors.
Major questions are now being raised about the ability of the hospital to carry out its functions. With several top consultants having quit their posts, and claims that numerous nursing staff are wanting to leave, a Kerry TD has written to the Cork-Kerry Hospital Group to outline his concerns.
Deputy John Brassil said there is a lack of key personnel at the hospital which makes it very difficult for the facility to function in a safe and efficient manner.
“We currently do not have a consultant cardiologist, the last remaining consultant pathologist is leaving the hospital and there is only one consultant geriatrician. Two very important units, the stroke and diabetes units, are barely operational due to a lack of key staff. Recently, I was informed that the clinical director has temporarily stepped aside,” Deputy Brassil told KillarneyToday.com.
“UHK is at crisis point. The safety and wellbeing of patients and staff is now being put at risk. It cannot be allowed to continue and unless the Cork-Kerry Hospital Group, and the wider HSE, get its act together, patient safety will continue to be put at risk,” he said.
The Kerry TD said if there are staff shortages at a hospital it is the responsibility of the Hospital Group to step in and alleviate the pressure.
“UHK’s role as a category three hospital is now on the line. Last year, I warned that this may become a very real reality and now it seems to be coming to pass,” Deputy Brassil said.
“The Hospital Group must urgently intervene or we risk putting the lives and wellbeing of patients at risk,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kerry County Council has been urged to request an emergency meeting with the Minister for Health, Simon Harris and the General Secretary of the Department of Health General to address the crisis at University Hospital Kerry.
Cllr Michael Cahill said the nursing, trolley and bed shortage crisis must be addressed immediately.
“It is totally unacceptable the way patients, who are admitted through the A&E Department, are being treated, having to wait for hours on end on trolleys. This is particularly degrading for our elderly, many who are kept on trolleys for 10, 20, 30 and 40 hours. It is an absolute disgrace, and it’s demoralising and degrading,” Cllr Cahill said.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said there isn’t enough capacity in the hospital to care for the amount of people that present for treatment.
It recently emerged that an astonishing €6 million had been spent on agency staff at the hospital last year to deal with the recruitment and retention crisis. The hospital has 300 inpatient beds and employs close on 1,000 staff.
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