Hospital staff are being asked to work overtime to help clear the backlog of patients, the head of the HSE has revealed.
Currently, there is a high rate of absenteeism among hospital staff amid a surging number of flu and COVID cases.
In addition, there is record overcrowding with 525 individuals unable to be discharged because appropriate follow-on care is not available.
“We are looking at a range of staff - including consultants - to come in at the weekend,” CEO of the HSE Steven Mulvaney told Newstalk.
“There are arrangements already in place to cover things like structured overtime and separately we’re looking at overall HR flexibilities.”
Ambulances outside the Mater Hospital. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNewsSpeaking on Newstalk Breakfast, a consultant in emergency medicine said that patients are dying because Irish hospitals are understaffed and overcrowded.
"There isn't a quick solution, that is the problem," Dr Mick Molloy said.
"This is a massive building programme across the whole State required.
"The bed capacity in hospitals is dramatically below international levels, and it is dangerous.
"People are dying unnecessarily as a result."
Main image: A GP and a patient. Picture by: Alamy.com
