The INMO has today (Monday) released its report of March trolley figures, revealing a 14% increase on February 2019.
The total number of patients waiting on trolleys in March was 9,714, including 117 children. The average daily figure for the month was 486.
The worst-affected hospitals were:
- University Hospital Limerick – 1,054
- Cork University Hospital - 870
- University Hospital Galway – 722
- South Tipperary General Hospital – 520
- Sligo University Hospital - 483
UHL had its second-worst day for overcrowding last month, with 76 people on trolleys on March 19th. Last week also had the highest figure of 2019 so far, with 617 patients waiting for beds on Tuesday 26th, the highest number since March 2018.
Smaller hospitals had severe problems too. Sligo University Hospital saw 483 patients without beds this month, a 35% increase on March last year.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said
Overcrowding remains endemic in Ireland's hospitals. Other countries are investing in their nurses and midwives - we need to do the same to recruit and retain more staff.
And as Limerick continues to be the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland, management there are closing beds and shutting down an entire ward.
If our health service doesn't see staffing and capacity increases, conditions will only worsen for patients and staff alike.
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