by Louise Doyle
LETTERKENNY University Hospital had almost 600 patients on trolleys in April.
Figures by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show more than 11,070 patients, including 258 children, were admitted to hospital without a bed in April.
LUH was the fifth overcrowded hospital, with 594 patients on trolleys last month. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded, with 1,971 patients having spent time on trolleys in April.
The stark figures are an indication that the HSE has “not learned any lessons when it comes to reducing the number of patients on trolleys”, says INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha.
“The fact that we are seeing this level of overcrowding in April is clear that the HSE have not learned any lessons when it comes to reducing the number of patients on trolleys.
“The number of patients admitted without a bed only went below 400 on any given day on one occasion, and over 600 patients were on trolleys on five occasions over the course of the month.
“By any standard this is unacceptable but to see this type of overcrowding during a month when it is traditionally quieter is a clear indicator that the HSE’s current plans are not working.”
Ms Ni Sheaghdha said INMO members are reporting that the challenges associated with overcrowding are being “worsened by the HSE’s recruitment moratorium”, which is “making it impossible to staff any ward safely or to expand nursing services into the community to develop the much needed services as set out in Sláintecare”.
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