Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)

This afternoon, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, is picketing outside Cork University Hospital, CUH. Its members are seriously concerned about the situation we are facing into this winter. Yesterday, in October, there were 73 patients on trolleys in CUH and nine patients on trolleys in the Mercy hospital. There was an increase of 50% in the number of people on trolleys between August and September. The INMO is telling the Government that it is "obstructing safe staffing in a way that is simply irresponsible". That is a serious charge but it is one that the INMO clearly feels can be borne out. Posts are being suppressed and that is having a considerable impact on patient safety. Will the Minister address the posts that are being suppressed and the impact on the patient safety? Will he also ask the Minister for Health to consider the fact that CUH is consistently up with UHL in the list of hospitals with the most patients on trolleys and the need for a particular package for CUH.

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