Concern over trolley numbers at Cork University Hospital 

High trolley numbers in Cork University Hospital (CUH) are a concern for staff as they prepare for a challenging few weeks of trying to keep patients safe, a union representative has said.

Almost 100 people were on trolleys in Cork hospitals yesterday, including 75 in CUH, 17 in the Mercy, and two in Bantry General Hospital, according to trolley numbers collated by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

In total, 12,765 people in CUH, 3,059 in the Mercy, and 754 in Bantry have received hospital treatment without a hospital bed so far this year.

This day last week, CUH surpassed the total figure for 2023, when 12,582 people were treated on trolleys.

Nearly 300 people have been treated on trolleys in the week since.

Colm Porter, INMO assistant director of industrial relations, said: “Whenever you have 75 people sick enough to be admitted to hospital but with no appropriate bed space for them, it’s a concern.

“Coming into the winter months, there’s an upsurge in the likes of the flu, so you’re going to expect an increased demand on services, but it is a worrying trend when you see these numbers at the start of the week when you’re this close to Christmas and new year.”

January tends to be the worst month of the year for hospital overcrowding. In January 2024, a total of 1,632 people were treated on trolleys in CUH, 524 in the Mercy, and 97 in Bantry.

The upcoming weeks will see many people gathering in groups, including older or medically vulnerable people.

Mr Porter said that in their almost 20 years of collecting trolley figures, patterns have emerged which show January’s figures “are going to be pretty high”.

Earlier this year, CUH saw 98 people on trolleys in one day, a record-breaking high, and there are fears that figures of 100 or more could be seen over the next few weeks.

Mr Porter said: “It would be a sorry day if the numbers did go to 100 — it’s not a milestone any hospital would like to reach but, all things considered, it may happen soon.

“We would hope that the HSE is taking all the actions it can to de-escalate the situation, making sure patients are flowing through the hospital as efficiently as possible. 

“It’s already tough working over Christmas. 

“Our nurses and midwives are making significant sacrifices to work in hospitals.

“They are also faced with a situation every Christmas and January whereby they are asked to care for patients in inappropriate spaces.

“We know that the longer a patient receives any treatment in a trolley, the higher the risk of adverse outcomes.

“The number one priority for our members is to deliver safe patient care, but that’s difficult when working in overcrowded and understaffed circumstances.”