There has been a further rise in hospital overcrowding today with 824 patients waiting for admission to a bed, according to the Irish Nurses andMidwives Organisation (INMO).
Yesterday the union said there were 777 patients reported waiting for a bed.
According to the INMO, the hospitals worst affected today are University Hospital Limerick with 97 patients waiting, Cork University Hospital with 81 waiting and St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, with 65 patients waiting.
After the Bank Holiday weekend, hospital overcrowding continues to rise.
Today’s overcrowding numbers are the highest recorded so far on any single day this year by the union.
The HSE puts today’s figure lower at 599 patients waiting.
The HSE figures include patients who are on a hospital trolley or extra bed placed in an inappropriate space in a hospital ward.
In addition to those in emergency departments, the INMO also counts patients placed on wards, or on corridors or chairs, elsewhere in hospitals, waiting for admission to a bed.
The INMO said the current situation requires an immediate and decisive response from the HSE, including the cessation of all elective activity in acute hospitals, with private hospital capacity purchased to accommodate this work.
The highest level of overcrowding recorded by the INMO was 931 patients on 3 January, 2023.
“Given the level of overcrowding we have seen in our emergency departments throughout this year, the HSE must have a plan to ease the pressure across the acute hospital system. The current situation is dangerous and requires immediate action,” INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.
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Why do the HSE and INMO trolley figures differ?
“The HSE and Department of Health must be honest with the public about the dire situation facing the majority of our emergency departments. Patient safety must come first, and that means taking decisive action now to address overcrowding.
“This situation is being compounded by recruitment restrictions, with at least four HSE regions now unable to recruit without sign-off from the Department of Health. This is an extremely delayed process that creates significant risks for frontline patient care and staff safety.
“The INMO has written to the HSE seeking immediate engagement on the significant curtailment of services required to align hospital activity with the nurses and midwives available on each roster to deliver safe care.
“The HSE cannot restrict recruitment while simultaneously expecting existing services and capacity to continue regardless of the staffing available. Hospital activity must be aligned with the workforce available to deliver safe patient care.”