South Tipperary General Hospital ran at 200% bed occupancy at times during the summer, such was the disparity between demand and the hospital’s ability to cope.
That was one of the points made by consultant physician Dr Paud O’Regan after he and consultant psychiatrist Dr Alan Moore addressed this week’s meeting of the County Council on behalf of the campaign group, Save Our Acute Hospital Services.
They were outlining for the elected members, the challenges being faced by mental health services in the county on one hand, and the strain South Tipperary General hospital is under, on the other.
Speaking to Tipp Mid West this week, Dr O’Regan, said the international recommended occupancy rate is 85%, but at South Tipp General during the summer that rate was exceeded substantially.
He described the conditions at the hospital during times of peak demand as ‘appalling’, while he spoke of the development of the county’s mental health services as ‘failed and stalled’.
Dr O’Regan called for a ‘united political front’ to put pressure on the government to address the deficiencies in Co Tipperary’s health service.
