More than 1,000 on trolleys

CUH was the worst hospital for overcrowding in June in Ireland with 834 patients forced to wait on hospital beds last month.

Mercy University Hospital wasn’t as severely affected with a total of 168 and Bantry General Hospital accounted for 165 in June.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) revealed on Monday that 7,392 admitted patients had to wait without hospital beds in June 2019, according to a new monthly analysis by the union. This is a seven per cent increase compared to last year.

25 June saw 482 patients on trolleys, the highest total for any day in June since records began, and 49 per cent higher than the same day in 2018.

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Our members tell us that there’s no longer a summer respite when it comes to overcrowding. Summer 2019 is as bad as winter was five years ago. Understaffing is driving year-round unsafe conditions.

“The Government and HSE need to get a handle on this problem. That means implementing the Safe Staffing Framework and making real progress on Sláintecare. Without serious investment and reform, this problem will continue to spiral, with patients and frontline staff paying the price.”

CUH, South Tipperary General Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, University Hospital Waterford and Tallaght University Hospital all recorded their worst-ever June for overcrowding.

Among the 7,392 patients waiting for beds were 55 children.

The worst-affected hospitals in June were:

Cork University Hospital - 834 patients

University Hospital Limerick - 833 patients

University Hospital Galway - 546 patients

Tallaght University Hospital - 496 patients

University Hospital Waterford - 495 patients