In a concerning revelation, more than 10,500 patients were admitted to hospitals in Ireland without a bed in the month of October. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has decried the situation as “unacceptable” and pointed out the persistent issue of overcrowding.
Among those affected, 273 were children, adding to the gravity of the situation. The top five most overcrowded hospitals include University Hospital Limerick, Cork University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, University Hospital Galway, and The Mater in Dublin.
Currently, 557 patients remain on trolleys in hospitals across the country, and the INMO has stressed the urgent need for the healthcare system to address and control these high levels of overcrowding, especially after public holidays.
The INMO is calling on both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the government to provide a clear plan at both national and local levels to significantly reduce the number of patients forced to endure inadequate conditions on trolleys in Irish hospitals.