INMO: January the worst month for hospital overcrowding on record

Michael Bolton

January was the worst month on record for overcrowding in Irish hospitals, according to the Irish Midwives and Nurses Organisation (INMO).

The INMO has stated that over 13,972 people have been treated in hospitals without a bed in January, a 24 per cent increase on last year.

This figure was recorded after the INMO issued several warnings during the month regarding the consistently high level of overcrowding and the risks associated with flu surges and extreme weather.

The most overcrowded hospital last month was University Hospital Limerick, with 2,234 patients.

Cork University Hospital treated 1573 patients on trolleys, while there was 1388 people without a bed in Galway University Hospital.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “So few measures were taken to reduce overcrowding this month despite the very clear risks for injury and illness across the country. The result has been the worst overcrowding we have ever seen.

“Trolleys have been particularly high over the last week. We are now in yet another bank holiday weekend where the system is totally overwhelmed. It is clear that the HSE has not done everything that they possibly can and that their ‘winter plan’ is failing.

"The HSE must outline exactly how much private capacity they have acquired from the private sector and confirm that senior decision-makers are on site in each hospital this weekend.

“Only a few short weeks into this year our members are telling us they are exhausted and demoralised. Seeing yet another staggering record broken tells our members the situation is being permitted to get even worse for them and for their patients.

“Nurses and midwives have voted in favour of industrial action because they know that the current recruitment obstacles and the attitude to staffing that’s behind it absolutely need to change under the new government.

“This has been an extremely dangerous and disappointing start to 2025 for nurses, midwives and patients alike. The new government must be laser focused on safe staffing, increasing bed capacity and fulfilling its basic duties for a viable health service and safe workplaces, before this situation is allowed to get even worse.”