Cork University Hospital second-most overcrowded hospital in the country in October

Cork University Hospital (CUH) has been recorded as the second most overcrowded hospital in the country during the month of October.

According to the most recent Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) monthly TrolleyWatch analysis, 1,034 patients at the hospital went without a bed in October.

There were 299 patients who waited on trolleys at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) and 134 who waited on trolleys at Bantry General Hospital (BGH) throughout the month of October.

Nationally, more than 10,538 patients including 273 children went without a bed in October.

The most overcrowded hospital in the country was University Hospital Limerick (UHL), with 2,043 patients waiting on trolleys in October.

Speaking about the latest monthly figures, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghda said: “We are once again seeing an unacceptable amount of patients on trolleys the day after a bank holiday.

“Over the three days of the weekend, an additional 166 patients were admitted to hospital without beds. The system needs to get a grip on the out-of-control levels of overcrowding that occur following public holidays.

The fact that over ten thousand people went without hospital beds in the month of October is concerning. There is acute pressure along the western seaboard.

She raised concerns about staffing and said that there is not enough staff to deal with the growing demand within the health system which she said has a knock-on impact on both patient and staff safety.

“Unsafe staffing levels are going to be a feature of this winter unless we see targeted recruitment and retention plans in each hospital and community care area to allow for more nurses and midwives to be recruited at the pace in which we need them,” she said.

“Again this winter, our members are not assured that their safety and that of their patients is a priority.

“The HSE and Government must outline what steps are being taken both at national and local level to dramatically reduce the number of patients on trolleys.”