Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation had revealed that hospitals in Ireland are overcrowding for the first time since the Covid 19 pandemic spread largely. As per the reports, there are more than 376 patients admitted in hospitals across Ireland but they are having no beds. The most worst situation is faced by the University Hospital Limerick where 75 patients are still on their trolleys and they seek urgent national intervention.
The frontline staffs says that social distancing and infection control measures may not be carried out properly when a huge number of patients are still on their trolleys. A strategy to reduce the volume of staff being redeployed for vaccinations is required, according to the INMO and the union has advised enabling nursing and midwifery students to become paid vaccinators. They have also asked the HSE and HIQA to intervene in the worst hit sites and make sure that key staff are not redeployed.
The Covid 19 pandemic might be a turning point or milestone which marks the efficiency of the Irish Healthcare system and the mistakes which they come through should be looked after and rectified. Even though levels of Covid cases are reducing, non Covid patients also adds to the total which uses up the beds and facilities and thus more patients are forced to be on their trolleys. It still remains as a crisis for the days to come.