Dublin hospital among five worst for overcrowding in record August

St Vincent’s University Hospital was the fourth most overcrowded hospital in the country during the worst August on record for patients waiting for a bed.

The Dublin hospital recorded 728 patients on trolleys or in other inappropriate locations last month, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

Nationally, 9,945 patients were admitted to hospital without a bed during August, the highest figure recorded for the month.

University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded hospital, with 1,784 patients admitted without a bed.

It was followed by Cork University Hospital with 830, Letterkenny University Hospital with 730, St Vincent’s with 728 and Sligo University Hospital with 710.

The INMO has warned that hospitals are not adequately staffed or equipped for the coming winter and urged the HSE to examine the severe flu season experienced in parts of the southern hemisphere.

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said patients’ lives and dignity were being compromised by the current state of the health service.

“These figures, which represent sick people being underserved by the health service, are a direct result of government decisions to cap and restrict recruitment, ensuring that services are understaffed and under capacity,” she said.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha called for recruitment restrictions affecting nurses and midwives to be removed and for the safe staffing framework to be fully implemented.

She said deteriorating conditions for patients, shortages of staff and an increase in assaults on healthcare workers required a serious reversal of existing staffing and recruitment policies.

“There have been unprecedented levels of overcrowding in the summer months. Our members are worried about the winter ahead,” she said.

“Our colleagues in Australia have reported record levels of flu hospitalisations in their flu season.

“This August, our colleagues in New South Wales recorded record flu presentations to emergency departments.

“We will not be equipped or staffed to deal with this scenario here in Ireland. We need to listen to the front line.

“Safe staffing needs to be prioritised, restrictions on recruiting nurses and midwives removed, and legislative measures introduced to ensure the safety of staffing levels is our priority.”