Sinn Féin councillor Debbie McCole has criticised what she described as a serious failure in basic hospital infrastructure following an incident that resulted in the Fire Service being called to assist with the transfer of a patient.
The incident involved a patient on the first floor of the Cottage Hospital who required urgent medical treatment at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The patient is a full hoist patient, but due to the hospital lift being out of service since late December 2025, there was no safe way to move them from the building.
Cllr McCole said: “I am deeply concerned and appalled by the recent incident involving a patient on the first floor of the Cottage Hospital, who required urgent medical attention at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. The patient is a full hoist patient. However, due to the hospital lift being out of service since late December 2025, there was no safe way to transfer the patient from the building. As a result, the local Fire Service had to be called to assist in removing the patient.”
She said the situation posed a serious risk to patient safety and dignity.
“A lift being out of order for months in a healthcare facility particularly one accommodating patients with complex mobility needs represents a serious risk to patient safety and dignity and is wholly unacceptable,” she said.
“This ‘out of order’ lift resulted in an unnecessary delay in patient care and placed avoidable pressure on emergency services. No patient should have their care delayed, or their dignity compromised, because of a known and unresolved equipment failure. Equally, no family should have to witness such a situation and no frontline staff should be put in this position.”
Cllr McCole is now seeking an explanation as to why the lift has remained out of service for such a prolonged period, what interim safety measures were put in place, and what urgent steps are being taken to ensure a similar incident does not happen again.
She concluded: “This incident must serve as a wake-up call. Patient safety, dignity, and timely access to care must be non-negotiable in any healthcare setting. I will be seeking urgent assurances from the relevant authorities that this matter is being addressed as a priority.”
The HSE has indicated that it hopes the lift will be repaired and back in service within the next few days.
