21/10/2014

IAEM Raise Concerns Of Overcrowding When Treating Ebola

The Irish Association for Emergency Medicine (IAEM) has said that they have "serious safety concerns" about the potential threat of Ebola.

The IAEM released a statement on Tuesday morning saying that it is concerned about the HSE's reliance on locum staff, who lack specific training, overcrowding in emergency departments, and insufficient isolation facilities.

In its statement, the Association said: "We know that infectious diseases spread amongst patients and staff in crowded EDs. Such spread has happened with norovirus (winter vomiting bug), TB and most devastatingly with SARS.

"The Association is therefore not reassured by Department of Health or HSE claims of full preparedness given the current crowding situation in most EDs.

"Particularly significant is the fact that hospitals serving our major national airports, namely Beaumont Hospital, University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital, are most at risk as they have particularly high rates of crowding."

(MH/JP)

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