So far this year, 101,274 patients have been treated on a trolley, chair, or in another unsuitable bed space in Irish hospitals, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
This represents a five per cent drop compared with the same period last year, reports Breaking News.
However, some hospitals have seen trolley numbers rise compared with last year.
The hospital recording the largest increase was Mullingar Regional Hospital, where there has been a 40 per cent jump in patients on trolleys, reports Breaking News.
Tipperary University Hospital experienced a 23 per cent increase, while Cavan General Hospital recorded a 20 per cent rise.
INMO General Secretary Phil Nà Sheaghdha said: “The Minister for Health has acknowledged the role our members have played in reducing the number of patients on trolleys over the course of the year,”, reports Breaking News.
“The best way to thank nurses, midwives and other healthcare workers is to ensure that all hospitals are safely staffed, which currently is not the case. All signs point to the fact that we are going to have a very busy winter period. The HSE have failed to implement a safe staffing plan,”, reports Breaking News.
Over 1,500 nursing and midwifery posts remain vacant across hospitals, alongside insufficient capacity at many sites. If these positions are not urgently filled, hospitals may have to cancel elective appointments due to short staffing, reports Breaking News.
“The need to underpin safe nurse and midwifery staffing with legislation through the Patient Safety (Licensing) Bill has never been more urgent. Too many of our members are constantly working short, too many rosters are not filled, meaning that our hospitals are becoming increasingly unsafe for nurses and patients alike,”, reports Breaking News.
On Friday’s trolley count, 390 people were waiting for a bed.
University Hospital Limerick had the highest number, with 69 patients on trolleys, reports Breaking News.
University Hospital Galway recorded 34 patients without a bed, while St Vincent’s University Hospital had 33 patients on trolleys.
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