As trolley figures soar, report shows a third of weekend cases are drink-related



Sligo University Hospital has the 4th highest numbers on trolleys in the country today.

There are 32 patients waiting on wards and corridors at the Emergency Department in Sligo Today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation.

That’s the same number as Galway with Cork and Limerick University Hospitals recording the highest figures in the country today.

Meanwhile, there are 15 patients waiting on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital today.

Capacity issues and a lack of step-down facilties are consistently pinpointed as a source of what has now become a year-round problem in our hospitals.

Meanwhile a new report today led by staff at Galway University Hospital shows that almost a third of cases showing up at Emergency Departments at weekends are alcohol related.

The study examined information from every ED across the country.

This report led by staff at Galway University Hospital, NUI Galway and the HSE is the first of it’s kind here and includes information from every Emergency Department in Ireland.

It shows Saturday nights and Sunday mornings are their busiest times for alcohol related cases – 29 percent showing up are for harm due to drink.

The information found reveals they’re more likely to be male, arrive by ambulance, leave without being seen by a doctor and leave against medical advice.

Overall almost 6 percent of people attending EDs had alcohol recorded in their notes.

The research will be used to improve the collation of information on alcohol use and provide better services for those with drink problems.



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