Over 100,000 people treated on trolleys so far this year

Michael Bolton

101,274 patients have been treated on a trolley, chair or in another inappropriate bed space in Irish hospitals so far this year, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

This is a five per cent decrease from this time last year.

However, several hospitals have recorded an increase in trolley numbers from last year.

The hospital with the largest increase was Mullingar Regional Hospital, which has seen a 40 per cent jump in people on trolleys.

Tipperary University Hospital saw a 23 per cent increase, while there was a 20 per cent increase in Cavan General Hospital.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “The Minister for Health has acknowledged the role our members have played in reducing the number of patients on trolleys over the course of the year.

"The best way to thank nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers is to ensure that all hospitals are safely staffed, which currently is not the case.

“All signs point to the fact that we are going to have a very busy winter period. The HSE have failed to implement a safe staffing plan.

Over 1,500 nursing and midwifery posts are vacant across our hospitals, coupled with insufficient capacity in many sites. Unless the HSE fills posts urgently, we will find ourselves in a position where hospitals will have to cancel elective appointments due to short-staffing.

“The need to underpin safe nurse and midwifery staffing with legislation through the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill has never been more urgent.

"Too many of our members are constantly working short, too many rosters are not filled, meaning that our hospitals are becoming increasingly unsafe for nurses and patients alike."

On Friday's trolley count, there are 390 people waiting for a bed.

The hospital with the highest number of patients on Friday on a trolley is University Hospital Limerick, with 69 people waiting for a bed.

University Hospital Galway has 34 people without a bed, while 33 patients are on trolleys at St Vincent's University Hospital.