Cork University Hospital listed as second most overcrowded in 2023

CORK University hospital has been named by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) as the second most overcrowded hospital in the country this year, in what the it described as “the worst year on record for hospital overcrowding” nationally.

However, in a lengthy statement yesterday, the HSE said while trolley numbers have been far too high “suggestions that this year has seen the highest number on record are not correct”.

According to the INMO’s figures, more than 121,526 patients have gone without a bed in hospitals this year.

The organisation said the five most overcrowded hospitals were: University Hospital Limerick (21,141 patients); Cork University Hospital (12,487 patients); University Hospital Galway (8,914 patients); Sligo University Hospital (8,094 patients); and St Vincent’s University Hospital (6,555 patients).

“This is the second year in a row that we’ve broken overcrowding records and it’s obviously having an impact on our members in terms of their wellbeing.

“Their number-one priority is trying to provide safe patient care but, when you’re working in those kind of overcrowded environments, it’s very, very challenging,” INMO assistant director of industrial relations for the southern region Colm Porter told The Echo.

“The fact that the HSE has decided to implement a recruitment freeze at the same time as we’re seeing another year of record-breaking overcrowding, it’s really kind of demoralising.”

In its statement yesterday, the HSE said a seven day management programme focused on trolley numbers is in place.

From this week, the health service said it would be publishing on hse.ie “data giving a clear understanding of the factors which make up the hospital position”.

Regarding recruitment, the HSE said: “The HSE workforce is at its highest since 2006, which is good news for the public and staff throughout the country and reflects an expanding health service. In 2024 we will add further to that for specific developments and targeting both unscheduled care and waiting lists.

“We must equally operate within a more appropriate control environment.”