Overcrowding in hospitals major safety risk, says INMO

Over 692 patients are without a bed in Irish hospitals today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. 

Commenting on the latest figures, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“The level of overcrowding in Irish hospitals today is a major patient and staff safety risk.

“Any hospital with over 22 patients in its emergency department today, the average number of patients you can treat in a ward safely, should declare the level of overcrowding as a major incident. Hospitals should now deploy their major incident protocol.

“These hospitals should make the public aware of the level of overcrowding and that the public should seek alternative care arrangements.

“The INMO is extremely concerned about the safety of our members and the patients they are trying their best to provide safe and timely care to.”