Number of patients on trolleys in UHL creating 'serious issues' for staff and patients
University Hospital Limerick. Picture Dan Linehan
The high number of patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is creating “serious issues” for staff and patients, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
It follows the latest Trolley Watch figures, released on Friday, which show that 106 patients are awaiting beds in the hospital — the highest number recorded in any hospital in the country on Friday.
Some 468 patients in total were left waiting for beds in Irish hospitals, the figures from the INMO have found.
Cork University Hospital has the second-highest number of patients awaiting beds, with 45 people on trolleys.
The total number of patients awaiting beds in Irish hospitals is down 20 from Thursday’s figures.
INMO assistant director of industrial relations Mary Fogarty said the figures create serious concern for the coming new year.
“Conditions in UHL and many other hospitals are intolerable for patients and staff, and we’re increasingly seeing a daily count of over 100 patients without beds in UHL, which continues to be an extremely dangerous situation,” she said.
Ms Fogarty said these figures “can’t be permitted to remain the norm in this hospital” and said staffing levels needed to be addressed to ensure safety in hospitals.
“This means the service needs serious investment in staffing, as well as the removal of all obstacles to recruitment,” she said.
