University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded hospital nationwide in February

THE IRISH Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has released its total trolley figures for February with University Hospital Limerick (UHL) being the most overcrowded in the country making up over 15% of the national total.

UHL saw a total of 1,561 patients waiting on trolleys during the shortest month of the year.

The 1,561 patients waiting for a bed in February is an increase of over 30% from the January figures which saw 1,180 patients waiting on trolleys in the month that had 31 days.

Second University Hospital Limerick protest organised

UHL also had over 500 more patients waiting on trolleys in February than the second most overcrowded hospital, Cork University Hospital which had 1,041 patients waiting for a bed.

A total of 10,040 patients were waiting on trolleys in Irish hospitals during the month according to the INMO.

The INMO also released their figures for March 1 with over 85 people waiting on trolleys in both the emergency department and other wards around UHL, the most in the country.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha commented.

“February was an incredibly challenging month for nurses and midwives working in the Irish public health service with over 10,000 people admitted to hospital for care for whom there were no beds.

Over 9,000 patients left University Hospital Limerick without being seen

“We have seen serious spikes of overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick and across all Dublin hospitals throughout the month of February. It is clear that medium and long-term plans are needed to resolve the overcrowding issues in these hospitals.

“Nurses are working in extremely unsafe conditions. Their workplaces are not just overcrowded, they are also short-staffed. When wards are not staffed correctly, it has a very profound impact on the level of care our members are able to provide to patients.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha continued: “The HSE and Minister for Health must give an update on whether the measures they introduced in January to relieve pressure on our health system have had a real impact and what they are going to do to prevent further spikes in March and April.”