Following today’s admission by Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore that Tallaght Hospital is understaffed, Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has welcomed the Tánaiste’s statement but called for immediate action on the matter.

Crowe was responding to the news that 36 patients were on trollies in Tallaght’s A&E ward yesterday, and following remarks from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), that these patients were being put at risk from the overcrowding.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Deputy Gilmore made his remarks during leaders questions this morning but offered no solution for the thirty-six patients who currently lie on trolleys in Tallaght.

“Upon arrival to the Department of Health, Minister James Reilly pledged to shorten waiting lists and end the nightmare of trolleys in A&E.

“Sadly, that transformation has yet to take place.

“Reilly’s sleep walking management of the health service is unsustainable and will push our public health system into deeper crisis.

“Having conceded that Tallaght Hospital is understaffed, the Government logically needs to put aside its own rigid policy of austerity and do what’s best for service users and their health.”

Deputy Crowe concluded:

“The people of Tallaght deserve a health system and a HSE they can be confident in delivering for them. They deserve more than the valueless direction of James Reilly’s health policy.

“Deputy Gilmore has identified the problem, surely its long past the time for this to be resolved once and for all.”