INMO calls hospital overcrowding 'incredibly dangerous' as 683 wait on trolleys

Michael Bolton

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said overcrowding in Irish hospitals is "incredibly dangerous" with 683 patients waiting on trolleys.

The hospital with the highest number of patients on trolleys is University Hospital Limerick, with 138 patients waiting for beds.

Sixty-five patients are on trolleys in the emergency department, with 75 patients on trolleys elsewhere in the hospital.

Fifty-eight patients in Cork University Hospital are on trolleys, with 50 of those in the Emergency Department. In St Vincent's University Hospital, there are 44 people waiting on trolleys, with all patients in the Emergency Department.

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha is calling for action to be taken after the surge in patients following the bank holiday weekend.

“We are once again seeing another predictable post-bank holiday trolley surge in hospitals around the country this morning.

“The level of overcrowding across hospital sites is incredibly dangerous. These types of post-bank holiday surges are not new. There is no point in the HSE issuing statements describing how bad the problem is, they should have been taking preventative measures in the week leading up to the bank holiday to ensure that we didn’t find ourselves in the position we are in today.

“The HSE must outline what steps it is taking to alleviate the pressure in our hospitals over the in the immediate and short-term, and for the St Patrick’s Day and Easter bank holidays which will happen in quick succession.

“It is clear that the system is now completely overwhelmed. We need targeted measures to tackle this crisis, particularly in the Midwest where overcrowding is completely out of hand.”