A pregnant woman who was incorrectly prescribed a painkiller has said overcrowding at University Hospital Galway was “like a warzone”, the Dáil has heard.
During Leaders’ Questions on Thursday, Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell recounted the story of ‘Niamh’, who presented at the emergency department of University Hospital Galway at 6am on Tuesday, April 9th.
Ms Farrell said Niamh described a “crazy-long” queue of people winding up to reception as others sat on the floor or lay across chairs.
Relaying her words, she added: “Some had been there since Sunday. Staff under huge pressure, stressed with their workload, no time to think.
“It was just panic, at one point I thought, I’m going to die.”
Ms Farrell told the Dáil that after showing up to the hospital following a night of intense stomach pain and despite being unable to walk or sit due to the discomfort, Niamh was not triaged until after 7am.
“She felt the nurse had no time to ask proper questions and she was rushed out.
“When her bloods were taken over an hour later, Niamh was in a bad way and she could barely move with the pain.
“Other patients looked on with worry, but she had to ask for pain medication. ”
At this point, a nurse asked the woman if she could be pregnant and Ms Farrell told the Dail: “Niamh never saw that nurse again.”
Niamh had an ectopic pregnancy but this would not be but discovered until much later.
She “finally saw a doctor” five hours after she presented at reception, the Dail was told.
She had to walk to the other side of the emergency department in pain at a level described as eight out of 10.
Ms Farrell added: “She wasn’t even offered a wheelchair.
“She felt the doctor was so rushed that he wasn’t taking in what she was saying.
“Niamh was returned to the waiting area which she described as ‘like a warzone’.”
She provided a urine sample which she was asked to leave on a cart for collection.
Two hours later, she noticed that it was still on the cart.
“Niamh broke down crying. She asked her nurse why her sample was still sitting there, what was happening with her blood tests, and her questions were matched with confusion.”
One blood test result came back showing elevated white cells as part of a suspected infection.
She was prescribed an antibiotic and a pain drug Keral.
Ms Farrell said: “As she was being administered, the nurse came rushing back in panic and shouted: ‘You are pregnant. You can’t be on this painkiller while pregnant’.
“And then panic ensued about how much she had been given.”
Niamh was ultimately referred to gynecologist at 12.45pm, where the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy was raised.
“It was determined that Niamh needed an emergency scan, which she didn’t get until 2.30pm – eight and a half hours after coming in.
“The scan showed nothing but blood in her uterus. Niamh’s emergency surgery wouldn’t happen until 6.45pm, 12 hours after she first presented.
“Niamh’s partner was told it would take 1.5 hours. The operation took over three due to significant internal bleeding.
“Sometimes Niamh can’t believe she survived. She kept thinking ‘what’s going to happen to my baby if I don’t survive’.”
Ms Farrell said the ordeal was “deeply traumatising” for the woman and her family.
She said Niamh did not blame the hospital staff as they were under “too much pressure”.
She said she felt “lucky” that she went in early in the morning.
Ms Farrell said Niamh’s experience was not unique and that hospitals across the country are experiencing overcrowding amid understaffing.
The Sinn Féin TD called on the Government to lift the recruitment embargo in the health service.
“Stories like Niamh’s are why your recruitment embargo is so dangerous – lift this recruitment embargo.”
Ms Farrell added: “Niamh wanted me to ask you: ‘People are dying needlessly in our emergency departments. I could have been one of them. We need change. What is it going to take for change to happen. Tanaiste, is that what it is going to take?'”
In response, Mr Martin said the description of Niamh’s experience in the hospital was “shocking”.
“Clearly, Niamh went through an extraordinarily traumatic and horrific journey from arrival to the emergency department and subsequent developments and treatment.”
However, Mr Martin said her story raises issues beyond resources and staffing.
“The numbers have increased substantially in terms of recruitment, and that’s a fact.”
Ms Farrell shook her head at the comments.
The Tánaiste said he was “mystified” about the recruitment embargo, adding: “28,000 extra people have been recruited into our health service since 2020 – 28,000 people.
“There comes a time when you have to look at other factors: what’s happening on the ground, what’s happening in terms of the organisation of the hospital.
“And parallel with that is the need to enhance community-based interventions and care – which is happening – and the primary care sector as well.”
Mr Martin, a former health minister, said dealing with issues in emergency departments involves a multitude of factors beyond recruitment.
“It is about reducing the numbers on trolleys, it is about reducing the pressure on emergency departments and hospitals but it is also about reform on how we manage patients.”
Ms Farrell reiterated her position that the main contributing factor to Niamh’s negative experience was that the hospital was understaffed.
“Niamh was told by numerous medical staff that she was very lucky.
“But Niamh has been very clear, she shouldn’t have had to be lucky, nobody should have to be lucky – luck shouldn’t come into this.”
Ms Farrell called on Mr Martin to lift the recruitment embargo, deliver 1,500 beds and an elective hospital in the west.
The Fianna Fáil leader responded by saying more people were working in the health service than ever before.
He added: “The safe staffing in emergency departments has happened – and that has been rolled out in every emergency department.”
Mr Martin said there was an obligation on members of the Dail to focus on reforms and performance of the health service amid ever-growing budget allocations.
“It means a more rigorous analysis than just saying more numbers will change and resolve (the problem).
“Not necessarily, deputy, is the point I’m making.”
