Number Of Patients In Naas Hospital On Trolleys For June Up 200% On Last Year, According To The INMO

Friday, 1 July 2022 15:10

By Caoimhe Harney

Almost 10,000 patients went without a bed in Irish hospitals last month.

Some 220 patients were on trolleys in Naas General Hospital for the month of June, an increase of over 200% on last year, when 69 people were on trolleys in the same month.

Almost 10,000 patients went without a bed in Irish hospitals last month, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says it's the worst June on record for overcrowding.

In total 9,961 patients went without a bed nationally last month.

The busiest five hospitals were University Hospital Limerick, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Galway, St Vincent's in Dublin and Sligo University hospital.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation started counting the number of patients waiting for beds in 2006 and havesaid this is the worst June on record.

They're calling for mask mandates to be re-introduced in congregated public areas and the return of Covid testing for patients arriving at emergency departments.

Naas Resident, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha commented: “It has been a June like we have never seen in Irish hospitals with out-of-control hospital overcrowding coupled with rising COVID hospitalisations.

"In 16 years of counting trolleys, we've never seen June figures higher than the preceding January.

“Nurses are constantly raising the dangers associated with overcrowding in their workplaces, however the figures for the month of June are out of control and a stark warning of what is to come for the autumn and winter period, considering none of the mitigation measures necessary are being implemented.

“This level of overcrowding warrants senior HSE and government attention, it is not ok and it is not safe," she added.