78 patients admitted to University Hospital Limerick were waiting for beds this morning, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
46 patients were on trolleys in the emergency department, with a further 32 in wards elsewhere in the hospital.
The latest figures bring the number of patients on trolleys in Irish hospitals to 2,150 since last Monday and has led to a call from the INMO for all non-emergency activity to be curtailed in acute hospitals.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said there was an unacceptable number of patients on trolleys this week.
“Day after day we are seeing over double the amount of patients on trolleys compared to the same day in 2021.
“The directive from the Chief Executive of the HSE that was issued at the start of January for hospitals to curtail all non-emergency activity must be extended until the start of February in order to allow our members carry out their work safely.
“Covid is still very much a feature of the day-to-day work of our nurses and midwives. We are still seeing high numbers of Covid-related hospital admissions and nurses in our ICUs are treating very sick patients.
“While the Government will today discuss a reopening of society, Covid is still very much working its way through our hospitals and healthcare settings,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.
