There was a 75% increase in trolley numbers at the region’s main hospital this month.
More than 2,000 patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick across January, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s latest analysis of overcrowding at hospitals across the country.
The INMO’s latest analysis shows the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital is continuing to spiral, with 2,073 admitted patients waiting for beds this month alone.
It represents a rise of 893 on January last year, and is by far the highest number for the first month of the year, since records began.
It’s also 441 more than the next busiest facility; Cork University Hospital and more than double the third busiest hospital; University Hospital Galway.
In contrast, Ennis General saw a decrease in trolley numbers this month, from 123 in January 2023, to 69 across the last four and a half weeks.
Nationally, over twelve thousand patients were waiting on trolleys, chairs or inappropriate bed spaces, according to the nurses’ union.
It says it’s clear that capacity in the health system isn’t sufficient and that more beds and patient-facing staff are needed at the country’s hospitals.
In a statement, the INMO says that on each hospital site, the occupancy rate is above 83%, which means that the provision of safe care is compromised.
The nurses’ union is calling on the HSE to agree a realistic workforce plan, which provides for sufficient nurses and midwives to be employed to provide safe care, as well as a plan for more beds to open.
