UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) has topped the ward watch figures for September with the highest number of people on trolleys waiting for an inpatient bed.
There were 894 patients waiting on trolleys or in overflow wards in the hospital’s emergency department during the month according to the figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
This was well ahead of the 781 patients in the emergency department in Cork and 609 in Galway.
UHL was also the most overcrowded hospital in August, although September’s figure was a drop from the 969 people who were waiting on a bed the previous month.
7,765 were waiting on hospital trolleys for the month of September countrywide.
UHL management has consistently stated that there are more beds needed to solve the problem.
“Overcrowding is a whole-hospital issue and not an issue strictly for the emergency department,” a spokesman explained.
“A multi-faceted approach is required to tackle overcrowding, encompassing additional bed capacity, improved patient flow, the development of integrated care programmes with community services – all of which are being addressed by the Group.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “Nearly 8,000 people on trolleys should be regarded as a national crisis. But it’s become business as usual in the Irish health service.
“Our members are telling us that they can’t go on with this number of unfilled vacancies. It’s not safe for patients and it’s not safe for staff.
“The HSE simply cannot hire enough nurses and midwives on these wages. Unless pay increases, vacancies will remain open, wards will remain understaffed and things will only get worse,” she said.
Following a decision at a recent Special Delegate Conference, INMO members will soon be balloted on whether they accept the government’s proposals on pay. The INMO executive is recommending that members vote to reject the proposals.
