Fianna Fáil Press Office
Cllr John Lahart
Dublin South West
4 November 2015
Dignity needs to be restored to our health service- Lahart
Fianna Fáil General Election candidate Cllr John Lahart has blasted the HSE for ongoing problems at Tallaght Hospital which this week saw a 91 year old man languishing on a trolley for 29 hours and two infectious patients left in the Emergency Department, one of them for more than two days, before being admitted.
“Dignity needs to be restored to the health service urgently. Tallaght Hospital continues to breach HIQA recommendations and all the HSE targets and even basic fire evacuation safety standards.”
Cllr Lahart was responding to the revelation that a consultant at Tallaght Hospital has written to the Minister for Health and the HSE expressing concern about the ‘dangerous governance failures’ at the hospital on Monday.
“It is appalling that this consultant was so frustrated and concerned that he had to write to the Minister to highlight what is happening at one of the largest hospitals in the country. The email describes an environment of complete chaos that is simply not safe for staff or patients.
“Even more worrying than the stories of elderly patients on trolleys for days on end, is the revelation that two patients who required isolation were left in cubicles and separated from other patients by only a curtain.
“I understand that there is a dedicated pressure controlled isolation room in Tallaght that remains empty because of staff shortages. As the consultant points out there are strict rules for infection control which are obviously not being adhered to while patients are being left in open cubicles.
“It is shameful that patients and staff are being treated in this way. It’s no wonder that members of the INMO are being balloted for strike action. Who can blame them. I’ve met constituents who work in the hospital and who are utterly disillusioned and dejected with their work environment. I’ve met others on the doors in the last six months who are afraid of being admitted to the hospital. This is no reflection on the hard-working and dedicated teams of nurses and doctors working there – it’s a reflection on our chaotic health service.
“Front line staff are at their wits end. It is time for the Minister for Health and the Government to sort out the health service,” urged Cllr Lahart.
