‘No let-up’ in overcrowded hospitals

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has called for direct ministerial intervention in order to tackle the trolley crisis.

This comes as the union recorded 654 patients on trolleys yesterday afternoon, Wednesday with CUH noted as the third most overcrowded with 50 patients waiting for beds.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said there has been no let-up in pressure in Irish hospitals after record overcrowding numbers were recorded earlier in the week.

She said: “With nearly 1,400 Covid cases in our hospitals as well as the huge levels of overcrowding, it is not acceptable to our members that there has not been direct intervention from government to alleviate this problem. Our members have been sounding the alarm to Government every day about the chronic overcrowding.” She said: “Overcrowding adds stress for staff and worsens patient care. It is high-risk in normal times but even more so during a pandemic. The INMO is once again calling on HIQA to urgently investigate the overcrowding issue in the hospital and make recommendations.”

“INMO members from emergency departments across the country met Minister Donnelly two weeks ago to outline what steps need to be taken to alleviate the enormous pressure they are under. The Minister must take action today.”