St Luke's General Hospital in Kilkenny feeling the harsh effects of winter

There are 19 patients waiting on trolleys in the emergency department at St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny today (November 9) and a further 11 patients waiting on the wards. That’s according to the latest daily Irish Nurses and Widwives Organisation (INMO) trolley watch figures.

The latest figures follow a busy October at the local hospital, where 352 patients went without a bed. Nationally, a further 10,538 patients including 273 children went without a bed last month according to the INMO.

The top 5 most overcrowded hospitals included: University Hospital Limerick (2,043), Cork University Hospital (1,034), Sligo University Hospital (730), University Hospital Galway (662) and the Mater University Hospital (609). 

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghda said: "The system needs to get a grip on the out of control levels of overcrowding that occur following public holidays."

"The fact that over ten thousand people went without hospital beds in the month of October is concerning. There is acute pressure along the western seaboard," he commented.

"Again this winter, our members are not assured that their safety and that of their patients is a priority. The HSE and Government must outline what steps are being taken both at national and local level to dramatically reduce the number of patients on trolleys," Mr Ní Sheaghda concluded.