Almost 1,000 Patients Aged 75 And Over Were Forced To Wait Over 24 Hours In Cork's Emergency Departments

That's in the first 6 months of 2019.

The Echo reports today that 723 patients over the age of 75 spent a full day in Cork University Hospital's Emergency Department.

While a further 264 elderly patients did the same at the Mercy.

Across the country almost 8,000 patients aged 75 and over spent more than 24 hours in emergency departments in the first half of the year, a statistic that Cork TD Donnchadh O'Laoghaire has branded 'an absolute scandal'.

The HSE says that while elderly patients often present more complex needs, strives must be taken to ensure no patient remains in Emergency Departments for more than 24 hours.

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