McFadden urges HSE to expedite recruitment of nurses to help address overcrowding at Mullingar Hospital

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has urged the HSE to expedite the recruitment of nurses to help alleviate overcrowding at the Midlands Regional Hospital.

“While addressing the issue of overcrowding in the long-term is a complex one, it is also very clear that the Midlands Regional Hospital is suffering staff shortages in key areas.

“It is unacceptable that patients are lying on trolleys, particularly our elderly and our most vulnerable. Nurses at the coalface are saying that staff resources must be provided to help alleviate the situation.

“Everybody at the hospital is doing a tremendous job in very difficult circumstances and they must be supported. It is also unacceptable that any person should be forced to lie on a trolley, especially our elderly and most vulnerable

“I have been in constant contact with Health Minister Leo Varadkar and he is very aware of the issues regarding Mullingar Hospital.  I have also written to Mary Day, CEO of the East Hospitals Group, about the matter.

“I hope that the issue regarding staff shortages will be resolved without the need for industrial action.

“I also echo the sentiments of the Health Minister who has said that the centralised recruitment process is very slow and that hospitals should be able to recruit their own staff. In such an event, I would hope strong consideration will be given to the local pool of nursing talent in the Midlands.”