A Co Kildare man spent 3 nights on a hospital trolley in A&E at Naas Hospital as he sought treatment for a serious illness at the weekend amidst concerns of overcrowding in hospitals across the country.
Speaking to KildareNow, the family of the man who is a former member of the Defence Forces said that he spent 3 nights on a trolley in Naas Hospital and while they are 'eternally grateful' to staff at Naas Hospital for saving his life, the family have expressed their dismay at the high level of overcrowding in hospitals.
"He cannot call a nurse if he is in pain or sick as he is practically non verbal now....he can't even ask for a drink if he is thirsty...he saves the few words he has now for "God bless" "thank you" or "I love you". He cannot turn himself on the trolley and is without a doubt easy to be forgotten about in here. I would hate to think how it would be if someone wasn't here with him all the time would he be fed? Would they have the time and patience to sit and feed him his dinner an hour?" said the man's daughter.
"I'm not questioning his medical treatment as yet again they have saved dad's life for the second time in 2 months and for that I am eternally grateful. But the system is poor, it's a poor reflection on our government. But it's a reflection of how our government feel about our sickest and when you're sick you are at your most vulnerable. Most give out at their treatment at times like this and vow to do something about it when they can but when they are out of it they are just glad it's over and hope it doesn't happen again.
As our dad spent his whole life in the service of others one of his famous statements to us and his students was "a society is judged by how we treat the least of our brethren" but unfortunately when it came to his turn it is denied to him," she said.
It is understood that the family requested the VHI hospital closer to home to assess him to see if he was suitable for its services and he was eventually treated for pneumonia at home.
His daughter said:"Thankfully they agreed to treat dad's pneumonia at home and as a result we took him out on Saturday. I was at my wits end on Friday night, it was a horrible experience."
Meanwhile, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (IMNO) there are 20 patients receiving treatment on trolleys at Naas Hospital, 19 patients in the hospital's emergency department and 1 on a ward elsewhere.
Nationwide there are 582 admitted patients waiting for beds at hospitals across the country today, with 408 waiting in emergency departments while 174 are on wards elsewhere in the hospitals.
The worst-hit hospitals today are:
University Hospital Limerick – 63
St Luke’s General Hospital Kilkenny – 40
University Hospital Waterford – 35
South Tipperary General Hospital - 35
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