WITH 1,735 patients left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick during the month of April, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for immediate Government action to address the problem.
UHL accounted for a significant share of the 8,717 patients waiting for beds in all Irish hospitals last month with 982 in Cork University Hospital; 718 in Sligo; 670 in Galway; 573 in Kilkenny.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the trolley figures for April were extremely concerning.
“The worst day for overcrowding in any Irish hospital since the INMO began our TrolleyWatch occurred on April 21 at UHL with more than 126 patients without a bed. If we are breaking records in April, what hope do we have in the winter months?” she asked.
“Instances where we counted over 100 people on trolleys in UHL occurred four times in the month of April. While we welcome that Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has requested that a review be carried out in the hospital, it must be carried out by independent experts, not internally by the HSE.
“Nurses must be central participants of any review of the hospital.
“The problem of record-breaking overcrowding has not just been confined to UHL. There is a real problem with overcrowding all along the western seaboard. It has been the worst April on record for Mayo University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital. The Saolta Hospital Group made up 24 per cent of hospital overcrowding of the total overcrowding in Irish hospitals in April.
“It has been an extremely difficult time for nurses and midwives in Irish hospitals. They are incredibly exhausted and burnt out by the conditions in our hospitals. The HSE must uphold their obligation as an employer to provide a safe workplace.
“The Government and the HSE must urgently outline how they are going to solve this crisis hospital by hospital,” Ms Ni Sheaghdha added.
