Sir, – I have closely followed the debates into the top-up payments and governance structures in our voluntary agencies. I note that many, including the Taoiseach, quoted the Hiqa report into Tallaght hospital, which originally highlighted questions surrounding these practices.
As a patient advocacy group, we daily track the trolley numbers produced on the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. But I am puzzled. Beaumont Hospital has had in excess of 30 patients daily on trolleys since November 11th. A lot of days it had in excess of 40 patients and on December 12th it had 50 patients on trolleys.
The Hiqa report, as quoted by Ministers and the Taoiseach, published in May 2012, stated quite clearly that it was not acceptable that patients should be cared for on a trolley.
One would have to wonder is there any point to Hiqa reports; as when issues are highlighted, they can be ignored.
The debate in the media and in Leinster House has focused on the long-delayed publication of the service plan from the HSE for 2014. I would wish some would focus on the issues surrounding the patients left on trolleys in Beaumont and the hard-pressed staff attempting to look after them today. – Yours, etc,
TRIONA MURPHY,
Chairperson,
Tallaght Hospital Action
Group,
Firhouse,
Dublin 24.