The number of people waiting over 24 hours in Emergency Departments this year has tripled.
Over 24,000 patients spent over a day waiting for a bed in the ED from January to May
That includes over 8,000 patients who were over the age of 75, according to the Examiner.
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson, David Cullinane, says the people presenting recently, seem to be older and sicker:
"When there is any pressure on hospitals, the emergency departments bear the brunt of that pressure and the increase in presentations as well as hospitals not having the capacity that they need is resulting in very high wait times in many of the hospitals. People who are presenting are sicker and older, more frail and need more treatment and it's possibly been one of the busiest years on record for EDs across the state, and it's going to get worse."
