More than 2,200 patients are estimated to have fallen from their beds in health board hospitals in the State in 2001.
In addition to those falling out of their beds, a further 4,645 patients are estimated to have slipped, tripped or been involved in other falls in the hospitals in which they were being treated.
The statistics have been collated by the Irish Patients Association following requests to each health board for information on accidents involving patients. Not all health boards responded but from the information supplied by those that did, it could be established that on average, one out of every 76 patients discharged in 2001 was involved in a slip, trip or fall while in hospital.
The hospitals involved in the study include the main health board hospitals - regional hospitals such as Cork University Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital. They do not, however, include the major Dublin teaching hospitals, such as the Mater, St Vincent's, Beaumont, Tallaght and St James's.
The chairman of the Irish Patients Association, Mr Stephen McMahon, said he had received reports of a number of patient falls in hospitals and this had prompted the study. "The results show this is a major issue and we haven't even looked at nursing homes, daycare centres or the major Dublin hospitals," he said.