2018 was ‘worst year for hospital overcrowding’

LAST year was the worst on record for hospital overcrowding, according to new statistics released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The analysis found that 108,227 patients were without hospital beds in 2018, up 9pc on the previous year.

INMO trolley-watch records date back to 2006. The figure for that year was just over half of that for 2018, with 55,720 waiting on trolleys.

The hospitals worst affected by overcrowding were Limerick University Hospital (11,437), Cork University Hospital (9,135), Galway University Hospital (7,452), Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore (5,831) and Tallaght University Hospital (5,432).

There was also record overcrowding in smaller hospitals with South Tipperary General Hospital seeing 5,201 patients on trolleys in total for last year.

The worst months of the year for overcrowding were at the start of 2018. January saw 12,201 people on trolleys, February had 10,772 and March was slightly lower at 10,511.

Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the INMO said there are not enough beds to cater for the population of the country and not enough staff.

“More beds means more nurses, but the HSE simply can’t hire enough on these wages,” she said.

“It’s beyond time for the Government to engage proactively with the INMO to resolve the crisis in Irish nursing and midwifery.

“Patients should be focused on recovering, but instead have to worry about waiting times, understaffing and a lack of beds. 2019 must see real changes in policy and funding.”