500 wait on hospital trollies

MORE than 500 people were left on trollies in hospitals yesterday, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation said.

Of the 512 admitted patients waiting for beds, 390 were in the emergency department, while 122 are in wards elsewhere.

The worst-hit hospitals were University Hospital Limerick with 69, Cork University Hospital with 52 and University Hospital Galway with 43. Every morning at 8am, INMO members count how many patients are waiting in the hospital on trollies.

The figures come a week after nurses and midwives cancelled planned strikes in an ongoing battle for better pay.

The proposals put forward for union members will be voted on in the coming weeks.

The INMO’S Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “These proposals make important strides for safe staffing, pay parity, and achieving respect for our professions. They are not the end-point, however, and show the way for all grades in nursing and midwifery to get to fair pay levels.

“The executive and INMO management are recommending that members vote to accept the proposals, subject to the new contract, which will be negotiated over the coming weeks.

“We would encourage all members to inform themselves of the facts from our website and attend information sessions over the coming weeks.”