UHL tops list of hospitals for overcrowding in January

University Hospital Limerick once again experiences the highest levels of overcrowding in any Irish hospital during January.

Figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show that 12,132 patients including 278 children went without a bed in January 2024. 

According to the figures, 2,073 patients were on trolleys at UHL during January, significantly higher than the next hospital on the list, Cork University Hospital with 1,632.

“Another January has passed with hospital overcrowding remaining a serious problem in Irish hospitals," commented INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

"There were only three instances this month where less than 500 people were waiting on trolleys, chairs or other inappropriate bed spaces. 

“Hundreds of people are sick enough to be admitted to hospital each day but there is no bed for them. Some of the care environments are totally inappropriate, in some instances the care is provided on chairs. It is clear that capacity in the health system isn’t sufficient.

"We have not seen a significant drop in the number of patients on trolleys. We need more beds and we need more patient-facing staff. The HSE must agree a realistic workforce plan which provides for sufficient nurses and midwives to be employed to provide safe care and plan for more beds to open," Ms Ní Sheaghdha continued.

According to the INMO, January 2024 is the second worst for hospital overcrowding, after January 2018, since the organisation began counting trolleys in 2006. 

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“Patient safety is of the utmost importance to our members, they want to be in a position to provide safe and timely care. It is the view of INMO members that hospital overcrowding has not improved. On each hospital site the occupancy rate is above 83% which means that the provision of safe care is compromised,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.