INCREASE IN NUMBERS ON TROLLEYS AT HOSPITAL

THERE has been a sharp increase in the numbers of people on trolleys at Wexford General Hospital over the past seven months.

According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, 1,047 people were on trolleys at the hospital during the first seven months of the year, compared to 582 during the same period of last year.

The figures are the highest since 2015, when 1,166 people were on trolleys at the hospital during the first seven months of the year.

Neighbouring Waterford was equally badly affected, with 2,918 people on trolleys during the seven-month period this year, slightly up on the same period of 2016, and almost double the 2015 figure.

Meanwhile, 31 people were on trolleys at Wexford General Hospital on Thursday, and 25 on Wednesday, five of them in wards,

On Tuesday, the day after the August Bank Holiday, which is always a busy time, 35 people were on trolleys, according to figures provided by the INMO.

Over the three days, Wexford General Hospital was the second highest for the numbers of people on trolleys in any regional hospital, topped only on separate days by University Hospital Limerick and University Hospital Galway.

On Friday, things had calmed down with ‘only’ 11 people on trolleys, the seventh highest number in the regions.