August sees 20% increase of patients to ED in Drogheda

An increase of 20 per cent in the numbers of people attending the accident and emergency department (ED) of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda was reported by the Health Service Executive (HSE) for a two-week period in August 2009 and August 2010. A total of 1,664 people attended the A&E in that period in 2009 and this had increased to 1,984 in the sasme period in 2010. The details were provided to Drogheda Cllr Michael O'Dowd, a member of the Regional Health Forum for the North-East who had asked for a report on "overcrowding" at the A&E department on 30th August last. He asked what the reasons were for this overcrowding, had it happened before and what steps have been put in place to ensure there is no recurrence. HSE officials responded that there were a number of reasons for overcrowding, including an increase in the number of patients attending the department, patients who were waiting in the emergency department for admission to an in-patient bed, the emergency department infrastructure, and patients being accompanied to the emergency department by friends and family. It said that 813 patients had attended the department between 24th August and 31st August 2009 and this had increased to 977 in the period 23rd August to 30th August 2010 (20 per cent increase). The number of people attending the unit between 1st September to 7th September 2009 was 851 and this had increased to 1,007 in the period 30th August to 6th September 2010 (20 per cent increase). The officials said that the main reason for the increase in numbers presenting to the department was that there was a change in the provision of emergency services in the Louth-Meath Hospital Group with Louth County Hospital providing a 12-hour minor injury serixce only from 1st July 2010. "We are actively encouraging people to attend their GP, if appropriate, and also to attend the minor injury unit in Dundalk where the average waiting time is a matter of minutes," the HSE added. It added that one of the concerns in the emergency department was that patients wait there to access a bed when a decision has been made that they are to be admitted as an in-patient. "Patients with the longest waiting time in the emergency department are given priority for a bed when available. This can unfortunately be hindered by the clinical urgency of a patient waiting a shorter time (as decided by admitting consultant)," the executive added. The officials said that the new emergency department was four times the size of the old department at 1,300 square metres. "Within a couple of weeks of opening, it was recognised that the emergency department did not have enough seating in the waiting area. This deficit is being addressed and more seats are being installed in the waiting areas," the HSE went on. It said another reason for overcrowding was that people attending at emergency department could be accompanied by several friends or family members. "In July 2010, the Louth-Meath hospital Group launched their visiting policy. This visiting policy states that, in the emergency department, a maximum of two persons may attend with a patient subject to limitations imposed by staff. One person only may attend while a patient is in the treatment area". It said the staff in the emergency department were implemting this policy in order to protect patients, their families and friends, and the staff working in the department.