Capacity Crisis at Cork University Hospital

The INMO has today (Friday) written to the HSE calling for urgent curtailment of services in Cork University Hospital. 
 
In its letter to the National Director of Acute Hospitals, the union cited a lack of response to the current crisis from management and noted a range of challenges that need urgent intervention, particularly relating to bed management and the failure to curtail non-emergency services leading to issues with bed capacity, overcrowding in the emergency departments, and ICU demand that exceeds staffing levels.

The INMO also called for an emergency meeting next week to urgent measures they say must be taken to keep patients and staff safe. 
 
INMO Industrial Relations Officer for CUH Liam Conway said

 
This is a very dangerous situation across the acute hospitals in Cork, and staff can’t wait any longer for management to intervene. That’s why we’re now raising the matter to the national hospital office of the HSE, and insisting on meaningful action on safety.
 
Our members in the hospital feel abandoned, and they’re wondering how they are going to get through this winter.
 
It’s not sustainable and the fact is we will see dedicated staff who have worked through the pandemic, walking out of their jobs if this situation isn’t taken seriously. It’s absolutely crucial that the HSE works with us now to prevent that from happening.

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