Trolley figures at the Mater Hospital at lowest level in 8 years
Fine Gael Dublin Central Deputy and Minister for European Affairs, Paschal Donohoe, has today (Wednesday) said reports that the number of people on trolleys at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for 2013 is down 32% on the previous year is a clear sign that the reform agenda and the work of the Mater Hospital staff and the Special Delivery Unit (SDU) is paying off.
Deputy Donohoe went on to say that while the number of people on trolley is still too high, the fact that the figures for the Mater are at their lowest level in eight years is encouraging.
“News that the number of people on trolleys at the Mater University Hospital was almost 32% lower in 2013 than was the case in 2012 is great for the health service and most importantly the patients who are being treated and cared for at the hospital. Last year there were 2,866 people recorded on trolleys at the Mater Hospital. In 2012, that number stood at 4,198; that’s an overall reduction of 31.7% in just one year.
“While this figure remains too high, I am heartened by the fact that the number of people on trolleys at the Mater Hospital is at its lowest level since 2006, and am confident that the SDU, which was established by the Minister for Health, Dr. James Reilly TD, is achieving exactly what it set out to do and that we are moving in the right direction.
“Putting the systems in place to ensure that we have a health service that can cater to the needs of the entire population is not without its challenges. Despite the fact that we are now operating with 10% fewer staff in the health service, a 20% budget reduction and an increase in demand of 8%, we are starting to see the results of the reform agenda which is being progressed by the Health Minister.
“The figures for the Mater are bolstered by the national picture, which shows a reduction of almost 34% in the number of people recorded on trolleys in 2013 compared with 2011, when the Fine Gael/Labour Government came to Office.
“Ensuring that we have a health service that is worthy of the people is not going to happen overnight. However, by getting to grips with the trolley crisis, which had spiralled out of all control under Fianna Fáil; tackling waiting lists, drug prices and the working hours of our medical professionals; grouping our hospitals together; and introducing Universal Health Insurance, we can, and we will, get there.”