There are fears that the situation at the emergency Department of Sligo University Hospital due to unprecedented demand and insufficient staffing is not sustainable going into the coming winter season.
The ongoing issue of the pressures on the hospital were raised at yesterday’s meeting of Sligo County Council, with Fine Gael Councillor Thomas Walsh urging the the HSE and HIQA to carry out a safety and risk assessment of the staffing levels in the emergency department.
In a motion supported by all councillors, he also asked the council request the HSE for an update on the planned new 42-bed medical block at the hospital as well as how a shortage of 99 vacant nursing and midwifery posts was going to be addressed.
