No let up on overcrowding in hospitals

It is very concerning that we are heading into the latter half of the week with 700 patients on trolleys. 

Overcrowding is not just restricted to a handful of large hospitals, we are seeing patients on trolleys and an over reliance on surge capacity in nearly each acute hospital. Each hospital is now over 100% capacity, well over the recommended 85% occupancy rate. 

Statutory bodies such as HIQA and the Health and Safety Authority need to urgently get on the pitch. Patient and staff safety is at serious risk in conditions like this.