CUH had second highest numbers on trolleys in August

Cork University Hospital had the second highest level of people on trolleys in the country last month, as Irish hospitals experienced their most overcrowded August ever.

A total of 830 people were treated on trolleys in CUH in August, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, up from 792 in August 2025.

It comes amid an ongoing row between the HSE and CUH after a letter from the hospital’s CEO raised concerns about staffing.

Across Cork, there were more than 1,300 people treated on trolleys in August, up more than 60% from July.

Nationally, over 9,945 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed over the month, making this the worst August on record for hospital overcrowding.

The most overcrowded hospital was University Hospital Limerick followed by CUH, Letterkenny University Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital.

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “As we have seen in the past weeks, we are at the point where senior leaders and clinicians in the HSE are refusing to stand behind the current state of the health service.

“This is not a game, this is patients’ lives and their dignity being compromised daily.

“These figures, which represent sick people being underserved by the health service, are a direct result of government decisions to cap and restrict recruitment, ensuring that services are understaffed and under capacity.” 

She added that staff shortages are leading to “increasing pressure on those at work and unfortunately an alarmingly high assault rate against staff in recent years”.

Across Cork, overcrowding has increased significantly from the previous month – with 830 patients being treated on trolleys in CUH, 441 in Mercy University Hospital and 63 in Bantry, up from 621, 190 and 23 in July.

Across the three emergency departments, 3,075 people have received hospital care without a hospital bed in June, July and August, which Ms Ni Sheaghdha described as “unprecedented levels of overcrowding in the summer months”.

She said: 

“Our members are worried about the winter ahead. Our colleagues in Australia have reported record levels of flu hospitalisations in their flu season.

“This August our colleagues in New South Wales recorded record flu presentations to emergency departments – we will not be equipped or staffed to deal with this scenario here in Ireland.”