Patients attending the Emergency Department at Mullingar Hospital have praised the work of staff despite major overcrowding issues on site.
A HIQA inspection report of the ED found it was overcrowded and had significant issues with patient flow.HIQA personnel attended Mullingar Hospital last December for a detailed inspection of the Emergency Department, the surgical ward and the hospital's general medical ward.
All 234 beds in the hospital were in use on the day of the inspection with 17 patients on trolleys in the ED and a further six accommodated on chairs throughout the department.The emergency department has a total planned capacity for 25 treatment areas covering resuscitation bays, isolation rooms and paediatric assessment areas.
As part of the process, inspectors spoke to a number of patients in the ED to ascertain their care experience.Staff were described as 'lovely', 'kind' and 'helpful' in the questionnaires, while other patients described the pressure nurses and doctors were under.Patients on trolleys and in seats spoke of how the situation was not ideal and more beds were badly needed.A lack of sleep for those on trolleys and lack call bells were other issues highlighted by those attending Mullingar Hospital Emergency Department.
