A chara, – Brian O’Brien (May 23rd) writes disparagingly of the A & E service in Tallaght hospital on the basis of his experience there.
Allow me to add mine to the anecdotal evidence, because I was massively impressed by the service provided to me.
I recently experienced a small stroke and my doctor sent me to Tallaght A E. Like Mr O’Brien I was seen immediately by the triage nurse, and then admitted for a series of tests and examinations that lasted most of the day. I was never left without treatment or examination for more than 20 minutes. I went in at 10am and occupied a bed in a cubicle until 4pm, when I moved to the corridor to make way for newly arrived pressing cases. I was formally admitted to the hospital at 7pm that evening, and spent a few hours on a trolley before being admitted to a ward bed at about 3am.
No one likes to be on a trolley, but, given all the circumstances, my treatment was excellent and at no stage did I feel neglected or just dumped out of the way, as every effort was made to make me comfortable and give me as much privacy as was possible.
This is not the general view of A & E, so perhaps my experience was exceptional. But I doubt it. Well done, Tallaght. – Is mise,