Hospital bed shortages persist as 3,179 patients admitted without beds this week

Eva Osborne

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said hospital capacity and staffing must be increased to avoid future trolley chaos.

It comes after over 3,179 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed so far this week, with 657 of these being treated on trolleys, chairs, and in other inappropriate bed spaces on Friday.

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Over 3,179 patients have been admitted to hospital without a bed so far this week. This week was always going to be incredibly busy, but steps can be taken to ensure that we are not in a similar position next year.

“The aim for 2026 must be more increasing bed capacity and ensuring that all beds are properly staffed, and ensuring that vacant posts are filled across emergency, medical and surgical departments.

We know that there is less staff to deal with the growing demand in our health system and that it has a knock-on impact on both patient and staff safety.

"Unsafe staffing levels will continue to be a feature of winter surges unless we see targeted recruitment and retention plans in each hospital and community care area.

“Our members want to be able to provide safe care to those who need it, this can only be done if capacity and staffing is increased.”

On Friday, 657 admitted patients were waiting for beds in hospitals across the State, including 108 at University Hospital Limerick, 76 at University Hospital Galway, and 68 at Cork University Hospital.