Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O’Reilly TD has said the human impact of the trolley crisis has been laid bare after reports emerged that a woman died in the corridors of Cork University Hospital without a bed.

Teachta O’Reilly said:

“The reports of the tragic events in Cork University Hospital, which have surfaced today, are both shocking and distressing.

“The woman, who reports indicate passed away two weeks ago having been left in the corridors of Cork University Hospital without a bed, was let down by the system.

“There is significant human pain and suffering behind every patient who is sick and needs to attend a hospital, but there is a particular pain and indignity when someone is left lying on a trolley in a corridor or Emergency Department.

“It is easy to get lost in the stats, but the human impact of the crisis in our health service cannot be forgotten and the scandal of patients on trolleys can never become normalised.

“This should be a wake-up call to those running the health service that their inaction causes huge suffering and pain and reinforce the need to grasp this problem once and for all.”