Increased funding for health must be used to ease overcrowding at Our Lady of Lourdes – O’Dowd

Fine Gael TD for Louth, Fergus O’Dowd, has said that increased funding for the Department of Health must be used to ease overcrowding at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

“The Government has approved a Revised Estimate for the Department of Health of €500 million. This will allow the Programme for Government commitments on health to be met, while also addressing financial pressures in the health service.

“The top priority now should be to use these funds to address some of the immediate problems facing patients, in particular to help address overcrowding in Emergency Departments.

“Unfortunately Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda regularly has a high number of people waiting on trollies in its A&E. A recent work-to-rule by members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation at the hospital put the spotlight on staff shortages and the impact that these unfilled vacancies are having on the running of wards and the care given to patients.

“Our Lady of Lourdes is a busy hospital, where great medical care is provided to patients. We need to ensure that it is properly resourced, so that it can continue to provide this service.

“I would appeal to the Minister for Health Simon Harris to ensure that funding is now provided to Our Lady of Lourdes to address overcrowding.”