Severe overcrowding closes Mullingar Hospital A&E

The Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar is experiencing unsafe levels of overcrowding in its A&E Department. Today 22 patients are waiting to be admitted, and there are currently no trolleys available for new patients coming in. Mullingar A&E has seen an 800% increase in the number of patients waiting on trolleys in November 2009 compared to figures for November 2007. Such a drastic increase is attributable to the closure of 41 beds in the hospital. No communication or consultation took place with the INO regarding any such bed closures, even though it was quite clear that there would be serious consequences for the A&E Department and hospital as a whole.According to Lorraine Monaghan, INO Industrial Relations Officer:'The A&E Department in Mullingar cannot cope with this level of overcrowding, it is unsafe and unmanageable. This situation will inevitably worsen as we enter into the depths of winter unless management take immediate action and reopen the recently closed beds in the Hospital'