Close to 10000 patients on trolleys in february

The highest overcrowding ever recorded for the month of February showed that over 9,600 patients were on trolleys nationally during the month according to the INMO. 

In Mullingar there 473 patients on trolley in February 2015 compared with 365 in February 2014.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), following its comparative analysis for the month of February has found that the figure of 9,657 represents a 33% increase when compared to 2014 and a 75% increase when compared to 2013.

The year on year comparison also shows the extent by which the overcrowding situation has significantly deteriorated, as compared to previous years, and why urgent, radical and sustained action is necessary to address this crisis.

These figures emerge as the Emergency Department Taskforce, established by the Minister, is due to meet again later today. The figures confirm the need for the Taskforce to agree immediate actions. This will require sustained and significant funding from government, to allow the system increase its capacity, to deal with the number of patients presenting for treatment/admission.

Speaking this morning INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said these figures truly confirm the scale of the crisis from overcrowding.

"This level of overcrowding inevitably leads to the care of patients being compromised and frontline staff being overworked.

"The ED Taskforce, meeting today, must now agree the range of actions necessary to alleviate this crisis and allow patients be cared for appropriately with privacy and dignity.

"These measures must, as the INMO has consistently said, include additional bed capacity as well as the restoration of community nursing services”.

Mr. Doran concluded; “These measures will require additional funding and the government must acknowledge this need and provide the necessary additional resources on a continued and sustained basis”.