Madam, - Your Editorial of April 25th suggests increasing the number of beds in existing hospital wards as a measure to alleviate pressure on A&E units.
This would be a purely cosmetic exercise. Overcrowding in A&E units is a problem that cannot be solved by overcrowding wards throughout hospitals. You write that the Tánaiste may be forced to take this step but I would argue that she has a real alternative - increased bed capacity.
The recent Health and Safety Authority report pointed out the very real dangers to patients and staff of overcrowding in hospitals. Moving patients into wards that are already full will do nothing to reduce such dangers.
Real and lasting solutions to the crisis in the healthcare system are what is needed. Moving the problem to less visible areas of the hospital is not a real solution and will not benefit patients or staff in the long or the short term. - Is mise,
LOUISE O'REILLY, National Nursing Unit, Siptu, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1.