Worst-ever October for hospital overcrowding

Press Release 31.10.18

2018 has seen the worst October on record for hospital overcrowding, with 9,055 admitted patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs for beds. See report here.

This is over twice (+124%) as bad as when the INMO Trolley Watch began in 2006.

University Hospital Limerick had over 1,045 patients on trolleys – the highest in the country. This is the equivalent of Limerick’s total bed capacity twice over.

Five hospitals saw over 500 patients on trolleys this month:

University Hospital Galway: 716
Cork University Hospital: 647
Letterkenny University Hospital: 572
Mater University Hospital: 519
University Hospital Waterford: 512

The INMO also expressed concern at overcrowding in smaller hospitals. South Tipperary General Hospital, for example, had 474 patients waiting on trolleys over the month – nearly three times the hospital’s total bed capacity.

The union says that much of the overcrowding is down to understaffing, caused primarily by unattractively low pay levels in Irish nursing and midwifery. According to the HSE census, as of September 2018, Ireland’s health service has 227 fewer staff nurses than December 2017

The INMO will be releasing figures in the coming days which measure understaffing at key hospitals across Ireland.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“Over 9,000 patients forced to wait on trolleys and it’s not even peak winter season. Figures like these do not adequately express the hardship endured by patients who find themselves in these circumstances. The negative health impacts of this overcrowding are known, yet this is not addressed as a national priority.

“Our current health service simply does not have the capacity to cope. The government accept that we need additional beds, but we do not have a plan to tackle this daily problem. Opening extra beds requires extra nurses, but low pay means there is no immediate prospect of recruiting additional nurses or retaining current ones.”

-end-

Press Releases

Emergency nurses and doctors warn against return to overcrowding

Press release: 18.5.20

Limerick overcrowding demands national action

Press release: 14.5.20

Government must go back to drawing board on childcare

Press release: 13.5.20

“Severe” staffing pressure without extra undergrad nursing places - INMO

Press Release - 12.5.20

Over 11,000 babies born in Irish hospitals since COVID-19 arrived - INMO

Press Release 05.05.20

Tens of thousands of nurses and midwives are being short-changed -INMO

Press Release - 30.04.20

Government childcare offer “does nothing” for vast majority of nurses and midwives – INMO

Press Release - 22.04.20

INMO welcomes new universal facemask policy across health service

Press Release - 22.04.20

1 in 10 COVID cases are nurses - INMO

Press Release - 17.4.20

Mater Private hospital refuses COVID-19 nurses equal treatment - INMO

Press Release - 14.4.20

Global shortage of nurses, warns WHO report

Press Release 8.4.20

Condolences

7.4.20

Government must provide childcare for frontline healthcare workers

Press release 31.3.20

Pay for student nurses and midwives “a really welcome step” - INMO

Press release: 26.3.20

10,446 people on trolleys in February

Press release 2.3.20

81 people without beds in UHL

Press release 24.2.20

Midwives used to “paper over cracks” in maternity services

Press release 12.2.20

Trolley spike: 640 go without beds in Irish hospitals this morning

Press Release - 4.2.20

Over 12,000 patients on trolleys in January

Press Release - 31.1.20

First full week of 2020 is worst ever for overcrowding - INMO

Press Release - 10.1.20

520 on trolleys today – now time to follow through with key reforms - INMO

Press Release 9.1.20

Day 3 of “severe” trolley crisis: INMO proposes 5 “ready to go” solutions

Press Release - 8.1.20

760 on trolleys: day 2 of “extreme overcrowding” crisis

Press Release - 7.1.20

Worst-ever day for trolley overcrowding since records began - INMO

Press Release - 6.1.20

Trolley overcrowding 9% worse than any other year

Press release 2.1.20

2020: International Year of the Nurse and Midwife

Press release 31.12.19

HSE service plan “underestimates” staffing need, says INMO

Press Release - 17.12.19

Winners of the Nurse and Midwife of the Year Award 2019

Press Release 29.11.19

2019 breaks record for most patients on trolleys – and it’s not even December

Press release: 29.11.19

INMO celebrates 100 years

Press release 28.11.19

85 on trolleys in Limerick

Press release 25.11.19

Winter plan without extra staff will not help, warns INMO

Press release 14.11.19

100,000 without hospital beds so far this year

Press Release - 11.11.19

Understaffing: public health nursing services facing closure in Galway

Press Release - 11.11.19

679 Patients On Trolleys

Press release: 5.11.19

11,452 Patients on Trolleys

Press release 31.10.19

All Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference gets underway in Armagh.

Press release 14.10.19

INMO Launches Menopause at Work Paper

Press release 11.10.19

World Mental Health Day - 10th Oct 2019

ICN Press Release

World Mental Health Day - 10th Oct 2019

ICN - Mental health is a human right – end discrimination now

INMO: Budget is not gamechanger the health service needs

Press release 8.10.19

Highest-ever trolley figure in an Irish hospital: 82 patients without beds in Limerick 02.10.19

Press Release

September Worst Month of 2019 for Trolley Figures

Press Release - 01.10.19

Limerick trolley figures at record high

Press release: 23.9.19

INMO sounds alarm on understaffed Saolta hospitals

Press Release - 11.09.19

INMO warns of UK Brexit nurse recruitment drive

Press release: 05.9.19

Record Numbers on Trolleys

Press Release 02.09.19

Over 1,300 nursing and midwifery posts left vacant in Irish hospitals

Press Release - 26.08.19

Health crisis out of control in Cork

Press release: 02.08.19

Worst-ever July for ED overcrowding

Press Release 31.07.19

Patients at risk due to HSE recruitment ban, INMO warns

Press Release 16.07.19

Limerick: INMO calls for emergency plan as 81 on trolleys

Press Release 11.7.19

7,392 patients on trolleys in June

Press Release 01.07.19

Nurses victims of 90% of hospital assaults

Press Release 27.06.19

Pride: INMO calls for trans-inclusive health workplaces

Press Release 27.06.19

9,015 patients on trolleys in May

Press Release 31.5.19

Nurses and midwives gather for Centenary Annual Conference

Press Release08.05.19

62% yes: INMO members vote to accept proposals

Press release - 02.05.19

Hospital Overcrowding 10,229

Press Release 01.05.19

Global campaign for nursing launches in Dublin

Press release 25.4.19

INMO Executive recommends nurses and midwives vote to accept proposals

Press Release 03.04.19

81 on trolleys in Limerick - highest ever recorded in an Irish hospital

Press Release - 3.4.19

14% increase in trolley figures

Press Release - 01.04.19

INMO welcomes new package for Sexual Assault Treatment Units

Press release - 28.3.19

Nurses “deeply disappointed” at Limerick hospital bed closure decision

Press Release - 28.3.19

INMO slams Limerick hospital bed closures

Press release: 19.03.19

INMO and employers to go to Labour Court over contract

Press release: 11.03.19

INMO celebrates 100th birthday

Press Release 28.02.19

INMO Executive Council recommends members vote to accept proposals

Press Release 13.02.19

INMO suspends strike following Labour Court recommendation

Press release: 11.02.19

Nurses, midwives and supporters to march in Dublin tomorrow

Press Release - 8.2.19

No proposal, no invitation: nurses’ strike to go ahead

Press Release 04.02.18

INMO escalates nurses and midwives’ strike

Press release 2.12.19

“Inspiring”: public thanked by nurses and midwives for support on pickets

Press Release: 1.02.19

January trolley figures: 10,350 patients waiting for beds in Irish hospitals

Press Release - 01.02.19

Labour Court will not intervene in nurses’ dispute - strike to proceed

Press Release - 29.1.19

INMO accepts invitation Labour Court

Press Release

Nurses’ strike talks collapse without resolution

Press Release 25.01.19

Zero proposals from government on nurses’ strike – INMO

Press Release 21.01.19

INMO launches public petition

Press Release: 21.1.19

Nurses and midwives first strike on January 30th

Press release: 08.1.19

2018 is worst year on record for hospital overcrowding

Press release 2.1.19

No money for safe nurse and midwife staffing in HSE Service Plan, says INMO

Press Release 20.12.18

95% of nurses and midwives vote in favour of strike

Press Release - 18.12.18

35 “vital” Mater nurses trapped in visa limbo

Press Release 17.12.18

INMO welcomes consultation on overdue HSE Winter Plan

Press Release 06.12.18

Worst-ever November for hospital overcrowding

Press release 2.12.18

100,000 patients on trolleys

Press Release 28.11.18

ICTU Executive warns “no deal” Brexit would be a catastrophe for workers North and South

Press Release 21.11.18 ICTU

Public service stability agreement could provide solution to current impasse

Press Release 20.11.18

Nurses and midwives begin vote on strike action today

Press Release 19.11.18

INMO meets HSE before ballot

Press Release 09.11.18

Nurses and midwives to vote on strike action

Press Release 06.11.18

Worst-ever October for hospital overcrowding

Press Release 31.10.18

Agency nurse pay 20% higher than public

Press release - 27.10.2018

Nurses and Midwives Reject Recruitment and Retention Proposals

Press Release 16.10.18

Nurses and midwives welcome extra health spending

Press Release - 09.10.18

Nurses and midwives welcome new Sláintecare advisory council

Press Release 03.10.18

Cashel nurses to step up industrial action due to understaffing

Press Release 03.10.18

Nearly 8,000 patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs in September

Press Release 1/10/18

Nurses and midwives recommend rejection of government pay proposals

Press Release 26.09.18

Dublin nurses to protest

Press Release - 24.09.18

Kilkenny and Cavan nurses and midwives to continue protests against understaffing

Press Release 17.9.18

INMO hosts international speakers in campaign for safe nursing levels

Press Release 12.9.18

Nurses and midwives to protest at hospitals across country

Press Release 10.9.18

HSE admits they have no emergency department plan for winter

Press Release 7.9.18

INMO calls on government to meet on pay

Press Release 04.9.18

Worst-ever August for hospital overcrowding

Press Release - 31.08.18

INMO sets September deadline for government on pay

Press Release 28.8.18

The HSE still refuses to say how many nurses they’ll hire in 2018

Press Release 16.08.18

Real challenge of Sláintecare is funding

Press Release 08.08.18

Budget is “litmus test” for ministers on health service

Press Release 02.08.19

EDs in July: short over 200 nurses, record overcrowding

Press Release 31.07.18

Hospital overcrowding hits monthly high, says INMO

Press Release - 24.07.18

Overdue Sláintecare Appointments Welcome - Now We Need Funding Commitment, says INMO

Press Release 13.07.18

Poor Pay And Short Staffing Driving Nurses Out

Press Release 11.07.18

Overcrowding in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Kerry Unsustainable

Press release 02.07.18

June 2018 - Minor Reduction in Trolley Waits Recorded

Press Release 01.07.18

Consultants Settlement Welcome Indication of Pay as a Remedy for Recruitment Issues

Press Release 15.06.18

Health Services Face Winter of Discontent

Press Release 12.06.18

Storm Emma/Ophelia

Members Update 06.06.18

98% Nurses in Tipperary Vote for Industrial Action

Press Release 06.06.18

INMO express grave concern at lack of funding for Bed Capacity Report and Workforce Plan

Press Release 05.06.18

NMBI call for Abstracts

Notice 05.06.18

May 2018 - 9091 patients for whom beds not available

Press Release 05.06.18

611 Patients on Trolleys in Cork University Hospital so far this Month

Press Release 24.05.18

Nursing and Midwifery Staffing Crisis at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar

Press Release 24.05.18

Tipperary Nurses to Ballot for Action Simply to Provide Care

Press Release 24.05.18

Abnormal now normal at Letterkenny University Hospital

Press Release 17.05.18

INMO sends best wishes to all Nurses

Press Release 12.05.18

INMO sends best wishes to all Midwives

Press Release 05.05.18

INMO Survey On Nursing/Midwifery 4th Year Students

Press Release 02.05.18

INMO Members Gather For 99th Annual Delegate Conference With Pay And Conditions Top Of The Agenda

Press Release 01.05.18

INMO Hold Minute Silence to Mark Workers Memorial Day

Press Release 27.04.18

INMO members attend Dail debate today

Press Release 25.04.18

Safe nurse staffing levels & calls for immediate funded national roll out of programme

Press Release 16.04.18

Hospital overcrowding out of control

Press Release 11.04.18

March Trolley/Ward Watch Figures Break Several Records

Press Release 29.03.18

500 patients on trolleys today - Crisis is not over

Press Release 20.03.18

Crisis beyond comparison as 714 on trolleys today.

Press Release 12.03.18

Record breaking 3112 on trolleys this week

Press Release 09.03.18

INMO Calls For First Two Weeks Of March To Be Declared And Treated As Emergency Period

Press Release 04.03.18

INMO Welcome Health Commitments in National Development Plan

Press Release 16.02.18

INMO Statistics Confirm January 2018 As The Worst Ever Month For Hospital Overcrowding

Press Release 01.02.18

INMO Welcome Bed Capacity Report Findings

Press Release 23.01.18

INMO condemns HSE plans to slash frontline staffing numbers at St Finbarr’s, Cork

Press Release 22.01.18

INMO and RCM Move to Brexit Proof Midwives

Press Release 22.01.18

INMO Launches Paediatric Trolley Watch

Press Release 15.01.17

Bed Capacity & Staffing Central Issues At ED Taskforce

Press Release 08.01.17

First Week of 2018 Highest Number of Patients on Trolleys Ever Recorded

Press Release 05.01.18

INMO Trolley Watch Reaches Staggering Figure of 677

Press Release 03.01.18

INMO Annual Trolley Watch figures show 6% increase in 2017

Press Release 02.01.18