9,036 patients have been treated on a trolley, chair or in another inappropriate bed space in Irish hospitals in November according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The highest trolley figures this month were seen in:
- University Hospital Limerick – 1,273
- University Hospital Galway – 925
- Sligo University Hospital - 740
- Cork University Hospital 701
- St Vincent’s University Hospital - 669
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
Winter is a busy time in hospitals and in the community and we are already being warned that this year’s flu strain has arrived early and is affecting hospital attendance and capacity.
As frontline workers are exposed to viruses and experiencing increased pressure due to unfilled vacancies, the effects of short staffing are becoming even more stark for our members on the ground.
We are calling for the ED Taskforce to begin modelling the national ED staffing requirements for this winter, particularly in light of high flu numbers and circulating winter illnesses.
In addition, the HSE must provide a hospital-by-hospital breakdown of their plan for the coming months. If there are shortfalls in staffing and planning this winter it will not be possible for our members to provide safe care.