Trolleywatch: 19 patients on trolleys at St Luke's Hospital

Nineteen patients are on trolleys waiting for a bed at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny this morning according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Nationally 719 admitted patients are waiting for beds this morning, according to today’s INMO Trolley Watch. 434 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 285 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital.

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Commenting on recent trolley figures, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

"The aim for 2026 must be more increasing bed capacity and ensuring that all beds are properly staffed, and ensuring that vacant posts are filled across emergency, medical and surgical departments.  We know that there is less staff to deal with the growing demand in our health system and that it has a knock-on impact on both patient and staff safety. Unsafe staffing levels will continue to be a feature of winter surges unless we see targeted recruitment and retention plans in each hospital and community care area.

Our members want to be able to provide safe care to those who need it, this can only be done if capacity and staffing is increased."