Over 61,000 Cork hospital 'bed days' lost in three years due to lack of step-down care

Over 61,000 bed days have been 'lost' between Cork University Hospital  
(CUH) and Mercy University Hospital (MUH) over the past three years because of a lack of step-down care for patients ready for discharge.

Last year, there were 9,843 bed days lost at CUH and 5,912 at MUH.

The figures for both hospitals were released through a parliamentary question (PQ) to Cork East Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley. They relate to patients who are medically fit to leave hospital, but cannot be discharged because home care or nursing home supports are not in place.

A 'bed day' is a standardised healthcare unit that counts the use of a hospital bed by a patient for one day.

In relation to CUH, the figures show that a total of 20,573 bed days were lost in 2023, up from 9,843 bed days lost in 2025.

At MUH, 8,347 bed days were lost in 2023, up from 5,912 bed days lost in 2025.

“Delayed discharge is not just a bed management problem, it is a patient flow problem,” said Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients Association.

“Every patient unable to leave hospital safely, because community supports are unavailable, is occupying capacity needed by another patient waiting for care.

“Unless discharge capacity improves, overcrowding, surge beds, and pressure on waiting lists will continue to reinforce one another,” he said.

In a written response, a HSE spokesperson said that CUH and MUH improved delayed transfer of care (DTOC) performance between 2023 and 2025, significantly reducing patient delays and pressure on bed capacity.

“Overall, both hospitals have reduced delays, improved capacity, and supported more appropriate, community-based care, with future focus needed on managing high complexity DTOCs,” the response added.

Mr Buckley is calling for a major recruitment drive for carers working in home care, to help free up beds in the hospitals.

“Our health system is in crisis and our hospitals are stretched to breaking points. Now more than ever, we need beds in these hospitals to be freed up for patients who need them.

“Yet, every day, patients who are medically fit to leave hospital remain in these beds, because appropriate care packages are unavailable to them, to allow them to be cared for in their own homes.

“We need an ambitious recruitment drive for carers, to include improved pay and conditions, in order to attract people in to the profession.”

Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide told The Echo the issue reflects a whole-system crisis.

“If we want safer hospitals, we need properly resourced care in the community.”