November trolley figure in Cork described as ‘devastating’

CORK University Hospital (CUH) has recorded the second-highest number of people on trolleys in Ireland during November, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s TrolleyWatch.

There were 1,159 patients on trolleys in November at CUH, a figure that has been described as “devastating” by Cork City South East Labour Party local election candidate Peter Horgan.

“In Cork and around the country, patients are being forced to wait for hours on trolleys, and the impact on patients’ health can be devastating,” he said. “The morale of healthcare workers is at a critical juncture.

“The impact of overcrowding on staff is also devastating. It is an incredibly stressful working environment. Burnout rates are high and staff turnover is huge. In a modern society, public services like healthcare should be fully operational.”

A further 391 patients went without a bed at the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) in November and 62 patients went without a bed at Bantry General Hospital (BGH).

Nationally, more than 11,493 patients, including 434 children, went without a bed in November.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said that the sheer volume of patients admitted to hospitals without a bed this November was “far too high”.

“The call has to be made now ahead of what is going to be a dangerous situation to curtail non- urgent elective activity and ensure that our private hospitals are available to assist,” she said.