CUH sees highest rise in patients on trolleys last month
The trolley analysis shows that CUH — with 603 patients on trolleys last month compared to 410 in February — experienced the highest increase.
St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin had the second highest increase, with 705 patients on trolleys last month, up from 532 in February 2015.
INMO nurses at St Vincent’s — where trolley numbers have risen sharply over the past year — staged a lunchtime protest over continued overcrowding at the hospital yesterday.
It claims management have refused numerous requests to have services curtailed and an independent review of staffing.
INMO industrial relations officer, Philip McAnenly, said members were extremely disappointed that they had to stage a public protest on the issue less than a month after the emergency department (ED) agreement was brokered.
However, a spokesperson for the hospital said management acknowledged there was overcrowding in the ED but could not understand why the INMO was opposed to having additional beds on wards to alleviate the situation.
The spokesperson said the availability of sufficient nursing staff was a challenge but the hospital was actively and aggressively recruiting nurses nationally and abroad. It opened an additional 22 beds last December with more opened at times of increased demand.
Another hospital where the trolley situation has worsened is Waterford Regional Hospital — there was an increases from 201 in February 2015, to 354 last month.
Overall, there was an 8% reduction in the number of admitted patients on trolleys last month, compared to February 2015. There were 8,885 admitted patients on trolleys last month, compared to 9,657 in February 2015.
A number of hospitals showing big reductions included Letterkenny General Hospital in Donegal where there were 157 patients on trolleys last month, compared to 527 in February 2015.
Connolly Hospital, Dublin, had 502 patients on trolleys, compared to 239, a reduction of 263 over the 12-month period. Trolley numbers also fell significantly in Wexford General Hospital (313 to 86), Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda (715 to 530) and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, (769 to 658).
INMO general secretary Liam Doran said that while the “marginal reduction” was welcome, the figures confirmed the organisation continued to be faced with a deep crisis with regard to ED overcrowding.
There were 537 patients on trolleys in hospitals around the country yesterday, according to the INMO. University Hospital Limerick, with 45 patients on trolleys, had the highest number. It was one of eight hospitals with 30 or more on trolleys.
