That the health service in Ireland is sub-par, to say the least, nobody can deny. Chronic overcrowding, routine usage of trolleys as a feature, waiting lists going back years, etc. paint a less than favorable picture.
And it has been revealed today that it would take the construction of at least 6 new hospitals for the service to be anywhere near adequate to internationally set standards.
According to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA), hundreds of new beds would be required to make the service viable and fit for purpose.
Dr Tom Ryan, president of the IHCA, has said that: “Internationally hospitals would operate at 80% capacity, and this is done in the interests of public safety and in the interests of cost effectiveness.
“Irish hospitals operate at about 95% occupancy and this has obvious implications on patient safety, it is difficult to control infections.”