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Some 118,367 patients found themselves without a hospital bed in 2019, according to an end-of-year analysis supplied by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). Of those affected patients, some 1,300 were children under the age of 16 years.
The figures clearly demonstrate that in 2019 we saw a rise of some 9% above similar figures produced in 2018, making it the worst-ever year for hospital overcrowding, since records initially began.
The worst month for overcrowding, during 2019, was November with 12,055 without a hospital bed. Figures for the months of October and September remained nothing to write home about either, with same analysis showing 11,452 and 10,641 patients, respectively, experiencing similar difficulties.
To the shame of our elected representatives here in Co. Tipperary, the worst-hit hospital in the state, in 2019, was University Hospital Limerick, with 13,941 patients left waiting, latter serving the residents of North Tipperary. Same hospital is situated some 79 kilometres (49 miles) from Thurles, via the M7, or some 1 hour & 10 minutes driving time, subject to traffic density.
South Tipperary General Hospital, serving the south of the county, had 6,942 patients in 2019 without a hospital bed.
The INMO end-of-year analysis conclude that under-staffing and the lack of bed capacity remain the key drivers when it comes to overcrowding. They point out that 411 fewer in-patient beds exist here in Ireland’s hospitals today, than existed a decade ago, despite our emerging larger and older population.
Methadone
The number of people receiving Methadone, latter the mainstay of Ireland’s harm reduction services over the past 10 years, has increased by more than 600% in some areas.
Ireland’s use of Methadone, as a treatment protocol to treat Heroin addiction, has rapidly increased, with users of this synthetic opioid here in Co. Tipperary, increasing from 40 to 155 in number.
Currently there are 7,159 men and 3,042 women, (10,201 persons) registered on a methadone treatment programme across Ireland. It is also acknowledged that frequent users of methadone can illicitly redirect same from treatment programs; selling it on to others for similar use.
Methadone, also known by the common street names of ‘Foy’, ‘Done’, ‘Junk’, ‘Jungle Juice’, ‘Meth’ or ‘Metho’, is prescribed to dependent users of heroin and indeed other opioids, as a substitute for these drugs. The long-term use of methadone leads to rapid tooth decay; however, the more immediate side effects experienced, include excessive sweating, constipation, aches, rashes, fluid retention, loss of appetite and painful stomach cramps.
Use of Heroin
The long-term effects of high doses of Heroin causes nausea and vomiting the first time you use it. Heroin is highly addictive, both physically and psychologically. Your body will quickly crave it and you will feel you can’t cope without it. If you use it regularly for 2 to 3 weeks you will build a tolerance, so you need to keep taking more and more to get the same initial buzz. High doses administered can cause you to feel drowsy all the time, fall into a coma or die from breathing failure.
It should be noted that Gardaí believe that a quarter of those arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence just yesterday alone, Christmas Day 2019, were believed to have had drugs within their body system at the time of their arrest.
Since 2004 there have been 8,207 drug-related deaths here in Ireland, with Methadone being one the most common prescription drugs implicated.
There are many who believe that the law relating to those involved in direct drug dealing, when apprehended, should be charged with the offence of Capital Murder.
University Hospital Limerick (UHL) the medical facility serving patients across north Co. Tipperary, was warned that “enforcement action” would be taken by the Limerick Fire Authority, should trolley numbers not be reduced in the hospital’s emergency department.
UHL received this warning back in late March of this year, when it received correspondence that such action would be considered by the Fire Authority should trolley numbers exceed the regarded safe number of 29 patients; latter stated in the Fire Safety Notice issued on December 3rd, 2018.
This previously undisclosed information and warning of enforcement action, was revealed in correspondence between Ms Collette Cowan (UHL CEO) and Mr Michael Ryan (Limerick’s Chief Fire Officer) and published publicly by UHL only yesterday, following requests by journalists under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI).
Questions must now be asked, by our Tipperary elected representatives, as to whether Fine Gael politician and Minister for Health Mr Simon Harris was made fully made aware of this correspondence and why rural patients using this facility were kept in the dark.
If Mr Harris was aware of this enforcement action, surely the now deselected Fine Gael candidate and Wexford business woman Ms Verona Murphy, in her claim, that Health Minister Mr Simon Harris is “one of the worst ministers for health ever”, must be fully vindicated.
Once again, the silence is deafening.
Holiday Opening Hours
Liberty Pharmacy, No. 43 Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Sunday – December 22nd, —— 11:00am – 6:00pm.
Monday – December 23rd, —— 8:30am – 6:00pm.
Christmas Eve – December 24th, —— 8:30am – 5:00pm.
CHRISTMAS DAY – December 25th, —— CLOSED.
St. Stephens Day – December 26th, —— 11:00 – 4:00.
Friday – December 27th, —— 11:00am – 4:00pm.
Saturday – December 28th, —— 9:00am – 6:00pm.
Sunday – December 29th, —— CLOSED.
Monday – December 30th, —— 9:00am – 6:00pm.
New Year’s Eve – December 31st, —— 9:00am – 6:00pm.
NEW YEARS DAY, —— CLOSED.
Thursday – January 2nd —— 9:00am – 6:00pm.
Normal Hours will resume from herein.
Proprietor Kate Kennedy and all Staff at Liberty Pharmacy, No.34 Liberty Square, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, would like to take this opportunity to wish all their customers a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year.
Some 614 patients are being treated on trolleys at hospitals across the 26 counties of Ireland this morning, all waiting for beds to become available.
Some 433 patients are waiting in emergency department, while 181 other patients are in wards, spread elsewhere in affected hospitals.
As usual, University Hospital Limerick, serving north Tipperary, whose staff remain under intolerable pressure; are once again the worst affected with 74 people awaiting beds. Clonmel General Hospital, latter serving the needs of South Tipperary, have 32 patients on trolley’s awaiting beds, according to figures supplied by INMO Trolly Watch.
In all, over 17.26 % of all patients nationally, who are without a bed this morning, are to be found located, waiting in hospitals supposedly serving the people of Tipperary.
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