Patients and healthcare staff: Share your experience of the trolley crisis

As record numbers of patients wait on trolleys, we want to hear from those affected

There were 677 patients waiting on trolleys in emergency departments or on wards at hospitals across the State on Wednesday – the highest number ever recorded. Photograph: iStock
There were 677 patients waiting on trolleys in emergency departments or on wards at hospitals across the State on Wednesday – the highest number ever recorded. Photograph: iStock

With the number of patients waiting on trolleys in hospital emergency departments or wards reaching record levels this week, The Irish Times wants to hear from both patients and healthcare staff about their experiences.

Have you or someone you care for been left waiting on a trolley in recent days? How long did it take before you got a bed? Can you describe what the emergency department was like, and the treatment you and others around you received? If you are a doctor, nurse or other hospital staff member, can you describe what it is like to work in these conditions? What concerns do you have for patient safety, and for workers themselves? What are the potential solutions, in your view?

You can share your experiences using the form above. If possible, please include your name, and the name of the hospital you are writing about. A selection of responses may be used in our reporting.

Thank you.