New Clare mayor’s trolley tale

PERSONAL experience of spending more than 17 hours on a trolley has prompted new Mayor of Clare, Joe Arkins, to request an overhaul of acute services for Clare trauma patients at the University Hospital, Limerick (UHL).

Councillor Arkins believes the delivery of acute care for Clare patients is unsatisfactory because the promised facilities to deal with the influx of extra patients from Clare and North Tipperary hasn’t materialised at UHL.

Last November, he was taken by ambulance from Shannondoc into Limerick suffering from severe abdominal pain. Admitted to UHL at 1am, he was discharged at 6pm the following day after spending 17 hours on a trolley.

While Councillor Arkins got very good medical care and pain relief, he said the additional beds and step-down facilities are not available in Limerick to deliver proper acute care.

The Mid-West HSE has pledged the introduction of a new model of acute care in the region will ensure that patients who need acute care will receive this in a timely manner, with access to the appropriate specialist team as required. An extra 20 medical beds have been opened in St John’s Hospital, Limerick, with a HSE commitment of another 21 extra beds at UHL.

Acknowledging the new emergency department (ED) at UHL will not be available for use until 2015, UL Hospital Group chief executive officer, Ann Doherty, has stated facilities in the current ED will be improved, with the development of a separate waiting and treatment area for children, which will allow the reorganisation of the use of space within the department.

Three acute medical physicians have been appointed in addition to the development of a new acute medical assessment unit at UHL.

Ms Doherty stated this ensures acute medical patients are seen promptly by a senior doctor, have early assessment and a plan developed for their care.

Councillor Arkins warns nurses and doctors at the ED in Limerick will become demoralised if they continue working in “third-world facilities”.

“My experience is unsatisfactory in that the promised facilities to deal with the influx of extra patients from Clare and North Tipperary hasn’t materialised.

“I didn’t have to go into a waiting room because I was on a trolley. “Having spent most of a night on a trolley, it is not something I would volunteer to do again.

“The trollies were so close together. The only way a patient could get out was at the end of the trolley.

“Yet the staff providing the service, notwithstanding the fact you are in a trolley, or the fact they have to move the trolley at either side to get to you, they are expected to perform to the highest levels. People can’t give of their best in that situation. As a consequence, staff become demoralised and people will continue to become demoralised,” he said.

Had he arrived into the ED as one of the ‘walking wounded’ with a GP’s letter, the new mayor predicted he would have been forced to wait a lot longer for treatment. Mayor Arkins also said there has to be hospital beds and step-down facilities to facilitate safe discharge.