Throwing a light on Ireland’s overstretched public health service, latest data has revealed that a significant number of patients are waiting for beds in hospitals across the country.
According to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) Trolley Watch, a total of 459 patients are currently waiting for beds in hospitals.
The figures include 345 patients waiting in emergency departments, while 114 are in wards elsewhere in the hospitals.
University Hospital Limerick (UHL) stands out as the most strained facility, with a staggering 106 patients waiting for beds.
UHL is followed by Sligo University Hospital (57 patients), Cork University Hospital (49 patients), Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda (24 patients), and St James’s Hospital (23 patients).
UHL is also the most crowded when it comes to the number of patients waiting for beds in the emergency department (48 patients). It is closely followed by Cork University Hospital (42 patients) and Sligo University Hospital (33 patients).