704 patients on trolleys – ‘another predictable post-bank holiday surge,’ says INMO

704 patients have been admitted to hospital without a bed this morning according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

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

“We are seeing yet another predictable post-bank holiday surge in hospital overcrowding.

“Of the five bank holidays we have had so far this year, we have seen out of control numbers of patients on trolleys in the days following.

“This level of overcrowding must not be allowed to continue further into the year.

“Senior decision makers in both the HSE and Government must come together now to develop a year-round plan to tackle this crisis.”

Over the weekend it was revealed by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that over 10,119 patients, including 297 children, were admitted to hospital without a bed in April, according to the TrolleyWatch figures.

The worst levels of overcrowding were seen in:

1. University Hospital Limerick (1,596 patients)
2. Cork University Hospital (1,256 patients)
3. University Hospital Galway (827 patients)
4. St. Vincent’s University Hospital (647 patients)
5. Tallaght University Hospital (642 patients)