Elective surgeries to be cancelled to address overcrowding in Cork hospitals 

Measures to tackle overcrowding in Cork hospitals, including the cancellation of elective surgery and stopping non-emergency admissions, have been agreed between the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the HSE. 

A meeting between the INMO and the South/South West Hospital Group was held today. Overcrowding reached crisis levels at the two biggest hospitals in Cork - CUH and the Mercy - in recent days.

Capacity issues were exacerbated due to the high number of Emergency Department (ED) attendances and flu admissions in Cork hospitals.

A statement from the INMO said: “Additional measures have now been agreed with the South/South West Hospital Group and put in place in order to improve bed capacity. Such measures include the cancellation of elective surgery, stopping non-emergency admissions and sourcing extra bed capacity from the public and private sectors.

“In the context of the current pressures facing the South /South West Hospital Group, all nursing posts that are sanctioned can be recruited and are proceeding.” 

The meeting, which took a number of hours, was adjourned to allow consideration of the issues raised by the INMO, particularly the delegation of authority to recruit at the hospital level, as well as agreement on a funded 2020 HSE Workforce Plan for Nursing and Midwifery. 

Further talks will take place on Wednesday.