{"id":25115,"date":"2022-02-16T10:21:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T15:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25115"},"modified":"2022-02-16T12:24:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-16T17:24:17","slug":"mcdonald-accuses-government-of-failing-miserably-to-deal-with-hospital-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=25115","title":{"rendered":"McDonald Accuses Government Of ‘Failing Miserably’ To Deal With Hospital Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mary Lou McDonald told the D\u00e1il that new figures showed 1,100 people aged 75 and older were on a trolley for more than 24 hours while waiting for a hospital bed in January (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Government has been accused of \u201cfailing miserably\u201d to deal with the crisis in hospitals by the leader of Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Lou McDonald told the D\u00e1il that new figures showed 1,100 people aged 75 and older were on a trolley for more than 24 hours while waiting for a hospital bed in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answering leaders\u2019 questions, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin said emergency departments were experiencing \u201crecord attendances\u201d and clinicians believe it is a legacy of Covid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mrs McDonald said: \u201cOn your watch as Taoiseach, figures show that in January alone 1,100 patients aged 75 and over were lying on trolleys for 24 hours and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEleven hundred elderly patients left waiting on a trolley in a single month is 1,100 scandals, one after the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBe sure that behind every one of those 1,100 is a person, somebody\u2019s loved one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis crisis hasn\u2019t fallen out of the sky, the INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization) has been ringing the alarm bell for weeks and weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo the big question which arises is what is the health minister doing? What is the HSE doing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(Health) Minister (Stephen) Donnelly is paid \u20ac225,000, Paul Reid of the HSE \u20ac412,000, Robert Watt, secretary general of the department (of health), \u20ac298,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you pay that type of money you expect big results, you expect that the job is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe scandal of trolleys continues despite paying these men almost \u20ac1 million between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaoiseach, do you and the minister for health accept responsibility for this crisis in our hospitals?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin responded: \u201cWithout question there have record attendances in our emergency departments over the last month and the situation is very challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe clinicians on the ground are saying this is clearly a legacy arising out of the Covid period in terms of people not presenting early on during Covid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said there had been record investment in health, and bed capacity had increased under the current Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mrs McDonald said: \u201cYou and your Government are failing miserably in your task and I don\u2019t accept your excuse that this is a consequence of Covid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She referenced an appearance by Mr Watt before the health committee, saying she was \u201calarmed to hear that it seems that the secretary general of the health department is not signed up for Sl\u00e1intecare\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Martin said: \u201cDid you read the secretary general\u2019s speech to the Oireachtas committee this morning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou seem to simply think you can come in and say anything, and it doesn\u2019t matter whether it\u2019s true or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018If I throw enough mud it will stick\u2019 seems to be your approach to what are very serious issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

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