10,446 people on trolleys in February

10,446 admitted patients were without beds in Irish hospitals this month, according to the latest analysis by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. 
 
February 2020 saw 23% more people on trolleys than February last year, when 8,523 people were on trolleys. 
 
The worst-hit hospitals in February 2020 included:

1. University Hospital Limerick: 1,286
2. Cork University Hospital: 1,031
3. University Hospital Galway: 805
4. South Tipperary General Hospital: 653
5. St Vincent’s University Hospital: 535

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said 

“The long-running trolley crisis has to be priority number one in the government talks. 10,000 people have lining the corridors and waiting rooms of Ireland's hospital in February. Our members are forced to provide care in appalling conditions. 
 
“Meanwhile qualified healthcare staff are queueing up to work, but hospitals are unable to hire them. We have asked the health spokespeople of all the major parties to lift the recruitment embargo, and whatever the make-up of the next government we will insist that the these obstacles to safe staffing are removed immediately.”