So far, more than 100,000 patients have been left waiting on trolleys at Irish hospitals this year, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The INMO said that this is the first time that such a large number of hospitalized patients without beds has been recorded.
The organization has warned of unprecedented overcrowding in Irish hospitals since early summer.
Today, it said 100,195 patients were left waiting in carts this year, more than 1,900 of whom were children.
The worst hit hospital this year was University Hospital Limerick, where more than 15,000 patients were left without beds.
Cork University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin and Letterkenny University Hospital were also severely affected.
The INMO called for a multifaceted approach to address the problem, including the cancellation of non-urgent elective care in public hospitals and the use of private hospitals for that work.
It also wants to see the introduction of retention measures, including the provision of housing for essential workers such as nurses and midwives, particularly in areas of rent pressure.
The organisation’s secretary general, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said it is “not good enough” that nurses and the patients they are trying to provide safe care to “expected to accept this as normal”, reports RTE.
“Senior figures in the health service have warned the Irish public that waiting over 24 hours to be admitted to hospital is the new normal. In no other country would this level of indignity be accepted. Behind our trolley figures that we publish everyday are vulnerable patients trapped in undignified and unsafe conditions. Our members are working incredibly hard, it is clear that our public health service can no longer provide both emergency care and elective care,” she said, reports RTE.
Ms. Ní Sheaghdha said that although staff safety was prioritized in the winter plan, it is not met in many hospitals.
She described bed capacity announcements as “a meaningless endeavour if you do not have the staff” to ensure beds can be opened safely.
The Department of Health and the Health Service Executive cannot afford to be passive. Between overcrowding and retention of nurses, the situation is worsening every day. Every possible measure that can be taken in the coming days and weeks must be taken,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said, according to RTE.
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