02/12/2016

Over 9,300 Patients Wait For Hospital Beds

New figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has revealed over 9,300 hospital patients were waiting for a trolley in November, the worst figure since counting began.

Overall, 85,731 patients had been admitted for in-patient care in the first 11 months of 2016 but were left on trolleys as no beds were available.

With only a 1% improvement in the number of admitted patients on trolleys so far this year, the INMO said these figures must be viewed as "very disappointing".

The level of overcrowding was 26% greater than in November 2015 and 99% higher than the level of overcrowding recorded in November 2006.

INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: "These figures are hugely disappointing, if not surprising, and confirm yet again, our health service cannot cope with the demands being placed upon it.

The figures for November are particularly alarming as we enter the peak winter period with the inevitable increased demand that takes place every year over the next three to four months.

The loss of beds, due to hospital acquired infection, is also alarming and must be examined in the context of the constant ward level overcrowding, arising from extra beds on wards, which is now a daily reality in many hospitals,

"The winter initiative, with its €40m ear-marked funding, is obviously necessary but further measures, with resources, are needed arising from this latest trolley watch analysis."

(LM/CD)

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