Over 1,591 patients have been on trolleys so far this week according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
512 patients are being treated on trolleys, chairs or in other inappropriate bed spaces today.
INMO Director of Professional Services, Tony Fitzpatrick said:
The number of patients who have been admitted to hospital without a bed this week has been out of control, with over 500 people being admitted each day. This type of overcrowding is not normal for the month of May.
This level of unacceptable overcrowding coupled with the fact that nurses and midwives are constantly working short in many emergency departments and wards because of the HSE’s recruitment freeze is bad news for patient and staff safety.
Many funded nursing vacancies that are arising because of staff retiring, leaving or going on maternity leave are remaining unfilled because of the recruitment freeze. This is having a detrimental impact on staff morale and wellbeing. We have many reports of nurses being interviewed for posts and accepting posts, but no start dates have been provided to them. The freeze is still in place when there is unprecedented demand on our health services meaning that various departments and community services are working short.
This level of overcrowding warrants a serious response from the HSE and individual hospital groups and cannot be allowed to continue into the summer. All vacant nursing and midwifery posts must be filled immediately by lifting the recruitment moratorium.
ENDS