Over 10,000 patients on trolleys so far in January

611 patients are being treated on trolleys, chairs and in very clinically dangerous and environmentally inappropriate spaces in hospitals across the country according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“As we face into a second significant weather warning in the space of two weeks, the number of patients in high-risk areas continues. Nurses and midwives will be making very dangerous journeys into work in very busy emergency departments and wards.”

“Over 10,000 patients have been treated on a trolley so far this month, on course to be the worst January for overcrowding since the INMO began counting trolleys in 2006,” he said.

“Our members tell us that the age profile and acuity of patients being admitted is noticeably higher. The situation in many hospitals is completely unworkable for our members who are currently trying to offer care in intolerable circumstances. Nurses and midwives now have additional concerns about their inability to provide safe care due to overcrowded wards. Members are angry  that the HSE are insisting on placing patients in totally unsuitable clinical environments contrary to the risks identified by nursing staff. We are hearing of so many incidents of vulnerable patients being placed on infection control wards, despite high risks identified by nursing staff who have been overridden by non-clinical staff, and this is simply unacceptable to clinical nurses who are obliged to advocate for patients.

“Dramatically reducing the number of patients being treated in inappropriate spaces must be one of the top priorities for the new Minister for Health.”

“Radically scaling up capacity and staffing is the only credible long-term solution to ending the perennial overcrowding crisis,” he said.