Backlog may take weeks to clear - HSE

EITHNE DONNELLAN Health Correspondent

HEALTH: HOSPITALS WILL make every effort to ensure the estimated 16,000 patients who had appointments deferred as a result of yesterday’s strike are rescheduled as soon as possible, the Health Service Executive (HSE) said last night.

However, it admitted it could be several days and even weeks before patients due to have elective surgery yesterday actually get to theatre. For those who were due to attend outpatients and whose appointments were cancelled, efforts will be made to set up additional clinics to ensure they are seen quickly. But if public sector staff strike again next week, these plans could be thrown off course and thousands more patients may be inconvenienced.

The HSE said it was disappointed at the threat of further strike action. However, it said it would continue to work closely with unions to ensure the effect on patients could be minimised.

Pickets were placed on acute hospitals and psychiatric facilities yesterday by nurses, several other healthcare professionals and administrative staff. Staff at the Department of Health and HSE offices around the country were also out on strike. So too were staff from Our Lady’s Hospice in Harolds Cross, Dublin. HSE swine flu vaccination clinics were also cancelled.

In some flood-hit areas of Cork, Clare and Galway, health staff continued to work as normal.

The HSE said hospital emergency departments were very busy as there was less staff on duty yesterday to deal with the usual numbers of patients attending.

There were no reports of problems on the ground as contingency plans worked well, it added. Emergencies, cancer patients, intensive care units, dialysis and elderly care services were exempted from the strike.

In a statement, the HSE acknowledged “the responsible approach taken by health sector trade unions in relation to providing emergency cover and exemptions for critical care services, which ensured that patient safety was put first.

“The HSE would also like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication shown by the staff who were working today, all of whom were extremely busy but managed well under the additional pressures experienced by health services throughout the country during today’s action.”

Bernard Harbor of Impact responded to concerns about the picket outside the Harolds Cross Hospice. He said it was a peaceful picket, cover arrangements were agreed with management in advance and there was no question of those on the picket line asking members of the public not to pass the picket to visit relatives.

David Hughes, deputy general secretary of the Irish Nurses’ Organisation, said the pickets were very successful. “Our members were asking not if we should go out again but when,” he said.

Siptu nursing official Louise O’Reilly said the turnout could only be ignored by the Government at its peril.