'An out and out crisis' - No Irish hospital free from overcrowding today (Jan 4)

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) is calling on the government to provide supplemented emergency supports to hospitals nationwide. 

According to the INMO's latest Trolley Watch report, all hospitals across the country are experiencing overcrowding today (January 4). 

Over 900 admitted patients waited on trolleys yesterday (January 3), marking the highest figure since records began, with over 800 patients remaining on trolleys today. 

Nineteen admitted patients currently waiting for beds in hospital are children under the age of 16. 

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said, "We again repeat our call for the current approach of telling people just to avoid hospitals to cease The focus should be on providing supplemented emergency supports until the end of February.

"It is time for the Government to call this what it clearly is – an out and out crisis. A crisis warrants an extraordinary response from Government and the HSE.

"When nurses who are at the frontline dealing directly with patients and often the ones apologising to patients and their families on behalf of the State because of the chaotic conditions are calling on the Government to take action including but not limited to the immediate cessation of all non-urgent activity and the introduction of a time-limited mask mandate, then it must not continue to fall on deaf ears." 

Seventy six patients are currently waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick, with 65 at Sligo University Hospital, 62 at Cork University Hospital, and 51 at University Hospital Galway. 

Ms Ní Sheaghdha described conditions for patients as "most undignified". 

She said, "This is not the type of care they should be providing in a country that has the resources to provide additional capacity and support.

"Nurses and other healthcare staff cannot continue to weather this storm without adequate support and protection from their employer, it will add to the increasing intention to leave of staff which is exactly what this health service does not need."