CUH 'almost at breaking point' with record overcrowding

Cork University Hospital (CUH) is at “almost breaking point” as the hospital hits its highest ever recorded number of patients on trolleys, with the figures likely to worsen as peak season hits this winter.

98 patients were on trolleys or chairs in CUH as of this morning, which is a new record for overcrowding in the hospital, according to data collected by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Though this is the highest number since the INMO started recording trolley numbers in 2006, the Cork hospital has been victim to persistent overcrowding for some time.

INMO data shows that there were 81 patients on trolleys in CUH on Monday, with 479 patients having been treated on trolleys for October so far, a 73% increase from the same time period in October 2023.

Last week, the amount of patients who had been treated on trolleys in in CUH this year surpassed ten thousand, with the figure currently sitting at 10,394 in 2024 so far, higher than any other hospital in Ireland other than University Hospital Limerick.

The INMO do not collect data on Saturdays or Sundays, so both the monthly and yearly figures are likely higher.

INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations for the Southern region, Colm Porter said: “The number of patients being treated on trolleys, chairs and other inappropriate bed spaces in Cork University Hospital is gravely concerning.

“Despite their best efforts to ensure safe care, our members are facing overwhelming patient numbers in the Emergency Department, further compounded by a staffing shortage worsened by the HSE’s ongoing recruitment freeze. This situation is putting immense pressure on timely healthcare delivery.

“HSE South West must outline what steps they are taking today to reduce the severe congestion in the Emergency Department and how they plan to increase capacity in the community.” 

He told The Echo: “The previous record for patients on trolleys in CUH was in January of this year, so the fact that they’re breaking that record on the 8th of October is massively concerning.

“The INMO’s trolley count has been pretty accurate in terms of predicting what’s to come, so the expectation would be that those figures will be broken again and likely breaching 100 for first time in the next couple of months.” 

This comes as INMO, Siptu and FORSA members held a lunchtime protest outside CUH last Thursday over ongoing staffing issues.

The latest HSE staff census shows that between July, when it was announced the embargo was being lifted, and August 2024, the latest date for which staffing data is available, there was an increase of just six staff in CUH and just 16 in the Mercy.

Mr Porter added: “With over 14 patients on trolleys in Mercy University Hospital, clearly there is no release valve left with patients on trolleys in the ED and across wards in both major hospitals in the city – we need immediate de-escalation, a focus on discharge and curtailment of admissions.” 

Labour Party general election candidate for Cork North Central, councillor Eoghan Kenny said that the figures are “deeply concerning for the staff and patients,” adding: “It puts our emergency department in CUH at almost breaking point.

“The HSE now need to be looking at regional hospitals like Mallow, as a release valve to allow patients be discharged from CUH and receive the necessary care, which can be facilitated at regional hospitals,” he said.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said: “I know that there are people in hospitals waiting to be discharged who cannot leave because of a lack of nursing home beds.

“I am absolutely certain that in the coming weeks, as we enter the winter period and unless there is a real change in the government’s approach to healthcare, we will see the numbers on trolleys in CUH rise above 100 people.” 

The Echo contacted CUH for comment.