Hospital overcrowding: More than 640 patients waiting for beds

Tomas Doherty

More than 640 patients were waiting on trolleys in hospitals around the country on Tuesday morning, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

University Hospital Limerick (UHL) was the worst affected by overcrowding, with 86 people waiting for a bed. It was followed by University Hospital Galway (UHG) with 79 patients waiting and Sligo University Hospital with 56 patients.

Nationally, 422 patients were waiting in emergency departments, while 219 were in wards elsewhere, the INMO said.

According to the Health Service Executive's own figures, 461 people were waiting on trolleys across HSE-run hospitals on Tuesday.

There were 53 patients waiting in UHG and 48 in UHL. Tallaght University Hospital had 42 patients waiting for a free bed, according to the HSE's daily urgent and emergency care report.

The HSE counts patients waiting on trolleys or extra beds placed in inappropriate spaces in hospital wards.

The INMO also includes in its figures patients placed on corridors or chairs in other parts of hospitals while waiting for admission to a bed.