Hospital trolley numbers up 19 per cent

Hospital overcrowding is worsening, with the number of patients left waiting on trolleys 19 per cent higher than a year ago, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

The union says its analysis of trolley/ward figures shows last month, 4,648 patients were on trolleys in hospitals nationwide, compared to 3,913 in August 2013.

Some hospitals recorded big jumps in figures when compared to the same time last year, while others improved their figures.

The Mater Hospital in Dublin had 82 people waiting on trolleys in August 2013, but in this grew to 285 last month. Naas General Hospital saw a rise from 40 patients last year to 230 this year. Letterkenny General went from seven to 152 and University Hospital Galway recorded an increase of 146 to 319.

In contrast, Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown reduced its trolley and ward count from 464 last year to 271 this year. Cavan General Hospital saw numbers fall from 228 to 42 and Waterford Regional Hospital went from 180 to 47.

The INMO says the negative trend that started over the summer months is worsening; July’s figures were 8 per cent worse than the previous year.

The union the figures “represent a dire warning for the entire health system and the Government” as winter approaches.

INMO general secretary Liam Doran described the figures as "truly shocking". "The figures represent a clear warning that our health service has already cut back too deeply. We cannot talk about an economic recovery benefitting everyone while we are facing such unacceptable pressure in our health service," he commented.

He called on the Government to open closed beds and to deal adequately with the staffing crisis.

“The winter is coming and we must prepare accordingly. Therefore, the patient comes first and budgets must respond to need not bureaucrats.”