Following the publication of the National Inpatient Experience Survey by the Health Information and Quality Authority, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation have called for the Government and HSE to produce a hospital-by-hospital plan to tackle chronic overcrowding in our hospitals. 
INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“The National Inpatient Experience Survey echoes the concerns that many Irish nurses and midwives have about their workplaces when it comes to patient care. The survey was carried out in September 2021 when over 8,414 patients were on trolleys in our hospitals. 
“While patients overall feel they get very good care once admitted for treatment, the lengthy waiting times are a major cause of concern. Only 29% of people said they were admitted to a ward within six hours, this is a long way off the HSE’s own target of 95% of patients being admitted within six hours. 
“It will come to no surprise that University Hospital Limerick, University Hospital Galway, University Hospital Kerry, Cork University Hospital and Mayo University Hospital have all scored low for admissions in the survey. Our members are regularly raising the alarm of overcrowding problems in these hospitals.
“The implications of hospital overcrowding and delayed care have been well flagged by Irish nurses and midwives. They are the ones who have often have to explain to patients and their families why conditions in our hospitals are so poor. We welcome the confirmation that nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals continue to work in very difficult situations but do their best and treat everyone with dignity and respect.  This is reiterated throughout the survey and is important for those that work in these very difficult circumstances to hear this affirmation from the public.
“The results of this survey coupled with the calls of Irish nurses and midwives must inform any strategy Government and the HSE have to tackle chronic overcrowding in our hospitals.”

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