South Tipp General Hospital remains on lockdown today as staff attempt to halt the spread of flu and the winter vomiting bug which has led to chronic over crowding in Hospitals across the Country this week .
Visitor restrictions will remain in place in Clonmel for the weekend.
483 patients are on trolleys in Hospitals across the Country today according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The HSE figures, which don’t count patients on trolleys in wards, show 349 patients, including two children, are waiting for a bed.
The INMO is meeting with the HSE today to discuss the overcrowding crisis.
Ciara there, who spoke to Fran on Tipp Today about the conditions she experienced in the Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick this week.
The hospital which services patients in Tipperary is again the most over crowded in the Country today 43 people currently waiting on trollies.
The situation at South Tipp General is a little better with 13 people on trollies there today – Down from a peak this week of 45.
But restrictions remain in place in the Clonmel facility as staff there attempt the halt the spread of the flu and the winter vomiting bug which is affecting a number of patients.
A ban on visitors will remain in place over the weekend.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is meeting with the HSE today to discuss the over crowding crisis which is affecting hospitals right across the Country.
One suggestion to ease the over crowding is to introduce trauma centres.
The changes could mean patients have to travel further to a major trauma centre.
Professor Anthony Staines from DCU says not every hospital should be doing everything;
The IMO says the Health Minister’s commitments to tackle the trolley problem must be backed up by funding from the Finance Minister.
The group’s calling for more beds, investment in GP services and better pay for doctors.
IMO President Dr Ann Hogan says the government needs to get its priorities in order:
