Menu
12/06/2012
Figures Show Hospital Disruption Of 'Delayed Discharges'
Newly published figures show that more than 93,000 'bed days' were lost in hospitals in the first four months of this year because hundreds of patients were unable to leave.
The problem is being blamed on 'delayed discharges', or patients known as 'bed-blockers', who no longer need hospital level care but are still dependent.
These are patients who should be transferred to a nursing home or discharged back to their own homes where they would need support.
The problem is measured by counting each day that a bed is unavailable for a new patient because its previous occupant is staying too long in hospital.
There are currently over 700 patients categorised as 'delayed discharges' in hospitals around the country. This is a decrease on the 774 patients in this predicament in February.
Health Minister Dr James Reilly was highly critical of the blockages while in opposition and in 2010 he tabled a Dail motion in which he pointed out that 272,000 bed days had been lost in 2009.
However, if the same figures for the first three months of 2012 are replicated for the remainder of 2012, the number of bed days lost this year will exceed 281,000.
(H)
The problem is being blamed on 'delayed discharges', or patients known as 'bed-blockers', who no longer need hospital level care but are still dependent.
These are patients who should be transferred to a nursing home or discharged back to their own homes where they would need support.
The problem is measured by counting each day that a bed is unavailable for a new patient because its previous occupant is staying too long in hospital.
There are currently over 700 patients categorised as 'delayed discharges' in hospitals around the country. This is a decrease on the 774 patients in this predicament in February.
Health Minister Dr James Reilly was highly critical of the blockages while in opposition and in 2010 he tabled a Dail motion in which he pointed out that 272,000 bed days had been lost in 2009.
However, if the same figures for the first three months of 2012 are replicated for the remainder of 2012, the number of bed days lost this year will exceed 281,000.
(H)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
07 November 2018
Over 590 Hospital Patients Waiting For A Bed - INMO
Over 590 admitted patients are waiting for a hospital bed, according to new figures. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said 433 of these are waiting in the emergency department, while 158 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.
Over 590 Hospital Patients Waiting For A Bed - INMO
Over 590 admitted patients are waiting for a hospital bed, according to new figures. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said 433 of these are waiting in the emergency department, while 158 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.
01 March 2016
INMO Data Reveals Over 500 Patients Waiting On Trolleys
Over 500 patients are either on trolleys in hospital emergency departments or on wards waiting for beds, according to new figures. Data collected by the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation (INMO) revealed there are a total of 544 patients waiting.
INMO Data Reveals Over 500 Patients Waiting On Trolleys
Over 500 patients are either on trolleys in hospital emergency departments or on wards waiting for beds, according to new figures. Data collected by the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation (INMO) revealed there are a total of 544 patients waiting.
08 January 2020
Hospital Overcrowding Must Become A Thing Of The Past - IHCA
A record number of patients were without a bed in Ireland's hospitals in 2019, according to the latest figures published this month.
Hospital Overcrowding Must Become A Thing Of The Past - IHCA
A record number of patients were without a bed in Ireland's hospitals in 2019, according to the latest figures published this month.
05 September 2011
Hospital Overcrowding 'At Its Highest'
People 'trollied' at the sidelines in hospitals, awaiting medical treatment has reached record-breaking heights, so a nurses' group has said. According to a nurses group the amount of people waiting on trolleys to be treated in hospital was at the highest it has been in five years.
Hospital Overcrowding 'At Its Highest'
People 'trollied' at the sidelines in hospitals, awaiting medical treatment has reached record-breaking heights, so a nurses' group has said. According to a nurses group the amount of people waiting on trolleys to be treated in hospital was at the highest it has been in five years.
07 September 2010
Limerick Hospital 'Cannot Cope'
A nurses union has described the situation at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick as "chaos". According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) today, 45 patients are awaiting access to a designated hospital bed at the struggling hospital.
Limerick Hospital 'Cannot Cope'
A nurses union has described the situation at the Mid Western Regional Hospital, Limerick as "chaos". According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) today, 45 patients are awaiting access to a designated hospital bed at the struggling hospital.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
