Call for national response as 116 patients lie on trolleys in Limerick hospital

Dec 12, 2023

WITH 116 patients waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick this morning, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for a national response to tackle the hospitals overcrowding crisis.

According to INMO TrolleyWatch figures, 56 admitted patients were waiting on trolleys in the emergency department at UHL this morning and a further 60 in corridors and wards elsewhere in the hospital.

651 patients are without beds in Irish hospitals today according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Commenting on today's trolley figures, which showed 651 patients without beds in Irish hospitals, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said it is clear that hospital overcrowding is out of control once again.

"The level of overcrowding in some of our emergency departments warrants a national response," she declared.

"The INMO has been in contact with the new Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive seeking an urgent meeting in the next 24 hours ahead of what will be an extremely busy bank holiday weekend for our members.

"It is clear that the system is now completely overwhelmed. We need targeted measures to tackle this crisis, particularly in the Midwest where the overcrowding is completely out of hand," Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.