FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2018
Contact: Carl Ginsburg |Email: carl.ginsburg@nysna.org | 917-405-1060
NEW YORK STATE NURSES ASSOCIATION, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS DEMAND MONTEFIORE HOSPITAL STOP LEAVING PATIENTS ON STRETCHERS IN THE HALLWAY- SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME
UPCOMING FLU SEASON COULD MAKE PROBLEMS WORSE
NEW HOSPITAL HOTLINE ANNOUNCED
BRONX, NY- Members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) joined by community leaders and elected officials are demanding that Montefiore Hospital stop leaving patients in the hallways, on stretchers, with no privacy, sometimes for days at a time.
This situation has turned into a crisis with nurses recounting stories of patients being treated in public hallways with only public bathrooms for their use, bathrooms that are sometimes a long walk. Some patients have complained to the nurses about being in the hallway for days where bright lights shine 24/7.
Nurses from Montefiore were present, including NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN, to recount the hardships of overcrowding they encounter on a daily basis and their urgent concerns for the care of patients. All agreed that patients deserve better care, especially patients relegated to hallways.
Montefiore can no longer delay in providing additional hospital space and appropriate staffing levels in the ER, MedSurg and other units.
With the situation already bad, it is unclear what will happen with the start of flu season when the emergency rooms get more crowded.
City Councilmember Ritchie Torres has created a hotline for patients to call if there are issues of overcrowding especially in the emergency rooms. The hotline number is 646-481-8892.
City Councilmember Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) said, “Forcing people into cramped and overcrowded spaces is a disservice to the residents in the Bronx and the nurses who work at Montefiore. Hallway admissions are not a form a care, but a form of neglect. Bronx residents will not be relegated as second class citizens.”
Assemblyman Michael Benedetto (D-Bronx) said, “For too long the good people of the East Bronx have had to deal with intolerable emergency room waits at Einstein Hospital- it is time that we reach a solution to this insufferable situation.”
Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz (D-Bronx) said, “Montefiore hospital is a great institution which serves countless thousands of Bronxites, but there are conditions at Montefiore which demand immediate attention. It has been claimed that patients have been left in hallways for extended periods of time. As we approach the winter months when such conditions tend to worsen, it is urgent that Montefiore address these concerns now. I stand ready to work with all parties including NYSNA and Montefiore to do everything possible to foster the best possible conditions for all patients.”
“While I have deep respect and appreciation for the tremendous work done at Montefiore, I am deeply concerned about the allegations of overcrowding in the emergency department and on the floors,” said NYC Councilmember Andrew Cohen (D-Bronx). “I strongly encourage staff and administration to work together to ensure appropriate staffing levels to ensure the best possible care.”
NSYNA is also asking hospital management to look at a possible solution that involves adapting unused space at Westchester Square owned by the hospital that could be used for patients.
