Hospitals trolley problem 'more serious' in Kildare

The situation for patients waiting on trolleys in hospital is 'significantly more serious' in Kildare than in other parts of the country.

That was highlighted this weekend by Cllr Martin Heydon (FG), who said it is time for a complete overhaul of the nation's health system.

He said the emotional story told by one such patient, 'Mary', to Clem Ryan on KFM radio last week brought home in a very real way the suffering, stress, and trauma that lying on trolleys can cause to already seriously ill patients.

According to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation the number of patients on trolleys at Naas General Hospital during the month of January was seven times the number in the same period three years ago.

Cllr Heydon chaired a public meeting in Newbridge last Thursday where Fine Gael health spokesperson Dr James Reilly TD presented Fine Gael's new Faircare health reform programme.