Emergancy Departments In Cork Continue To Experience Severe Delays And Congestion

Saturday, 19 June 2021 11:19

It comes as the Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) has called for suitable yet functional alternatives to Emergency Department referrals to be provided

Eimear McKeown has more for RedFM News:

"The Emergancy Departments at both Cork University Hospital and Mercy University Hospital are under substantial pressure as they try deal with an increase in patient numbers in recent weeks.

As well as an increase in patients due to typical summer-related ailments and injuries, the number of people attending EDs has been worsened by a sizable increase in attendees, who would usually have been treated in primary healthcare facilities.

However these facilities are now involved in the vaccination programme rollout and are experiencing reduced capacity.

This, coupled with restricted access by medics to facilities within the hospitals and healthcare system, because of the hacking of the HSE network, is slowing down patient treatment.

Some people are experiencing considerable delays as a result.

The struggles in Cork Emergency Departments are reflective of the situation all accross the country.

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine is appealing to the government to provide functional alternatives to patients, and appealing to the public to use different sources of healthcare if possible.

Eimear McKeown, RedFM News"