There are 777 admitted patients without a bed in hospitals around the country, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.<\/p>\n
It said that there are more than 199 patients being treated on trolleys in hospitals across Galway, Letterkenny, Sligo and Mayo.<\/p>\n
University Hospital Limerick has 108 patients waiting for a bed, with 62 waiting at Letterkenny University Hospital.<\/p>\n
According to the figures, nationally, there are 499 patients waiting in emergency departments, while 278 were waiting in wards.<\/p>\n
Today’s figure marks the second highest number of patients waiting for a hospital bed on a given day this year.<\/p>\n
A total of 803 admitted patients were recorded waiting for beds in hospitals on 13 January, according to the INMO.<\/p>\n
On the day after the bank holiday Monday last year, the INMO recorded 417 patients waiting for a hospital bed. At the time, it said there were 296 patients waiting in EDs, with 121 in wards.<\/p>\n
‘Dangerous’<\/p>\n
INMO General Secretary Phil N\u00ed Sheaghdha described the overcrowding as “dangerous” and shows a “total failure in planning”.<\/p>\n
“It is hard to see how the employer can stand over conditions in any hospital in the country,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It is not acceptable that something as ordinary as a bank holiday weekend can result in this level of risk for patients and staff.<\/p>\n
“It demonstrates a total failure in planning and a total disregard for safety.”<\/p>\n
Ms N\u00ed Sheaghdha said that staff members are already stretched to the limit and a surge in numbers was not something that could be dealt with safely.<\/p>\n
“It is up to management to ensure staff and patients are not exposed to this total lack of safety,” she said.<\/p>\n
The HSE TrolleyGar figures put the number of admitted patients waiting for a bed in hospitals around the country at 544, with surge capacity at 693.<\/p>\n
It said that there are 387 patients wating in emergency departments, while 157 are waiting in wards.<\/p>\n
Surge capacity is defined as the number of additional inpatient beds in operation temporarily to meet demand, such as those on day wards and assessment units.<\/p>\n