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More than 600 patients on trolleys in hospitals around country, INMO warns

The INMO has urged the HSE to "get a handle" on the hospital crisis

[Hospital corridor bed trolleys (file photo)]

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The latest INMO figures were released on Tuesday (file photo)

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has urged the HSE to get a handle on a "summer trolley crisis."

This comes as over 600 patients are without a bed in Irish hospitals this morning, according to the latest figures from the INMO.

University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded hospital, with 130 patients on trolleys as of Tuesday, August 4, at the Treaty City hospital. At Letterkenny University Hospital there were 51 patients on trolleys, and in Cork University Hospital there were 43.

Overall, the latest report showed there are 388 patients on trolleys in emergency departments in hospitals around the country, while there were 229 patients on trolleys in other wards across the country.

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University Hospital Limerick

INMO General Secretary Phil N Sheaghdha said: "The fact that we have over 617 patients being treated on trolleys, chairs and in other inappropriate bed spaces this morning following the August Bank Holiday is outrageous.

"It is clear that the HSE have failed to heed the warnings of the INMO all throughout this summer and now patients are bearing the brunt of what was a totally avoidable trolley crisis during one of the hottest summers on record.

"The situation in University Hospital Limerick has not improved over the weekend with over 130 patients on trolleys there this morning. This is very worrying for our members there who are trying their best to provide safe care in an environment that continues to get busier and busier.

"There is no doubt that the staffing embargo is directly undermining the planned opening of much-needed additional beds. The Minister for Health must intervene immediately to ensure that all barriers to the recruitment of frontline nursing, midwifery and other patient-facing staff are removed."

[Trolley in hospital (file photo)]

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Trolley in hospital (file photo)(Image: Getty Images/Reza Estakhrian)

Sinn Fin spokesperson on Health, David Cullinane TD, has said that 617 admitted patients being left without a hospital bed in the middle of summer shows that overcrowding is now a permanent, year-round crisis.

He said: "The INMO figures showing 617 sick patients waiting on trolleys, chairs and in other inappropriate spaces in August is completely unacceptable.

"Figures supplied to me by the HSE show that, in the first six months of this year, 27,791 patients spent more than 24 hours in an emergency department.

"A further 58,594 patients left an emergency department without being seen. These figures show the enormous pressure patients and frontline staff are under. They are the result of years of underinvestment in hospital beds, staffing and community healthcare."

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