#Hospital overcrowding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

Last month was the worst for patients on trolleys since 2022
Last month was the worst for patients on trolleys since 2022
More people were on trolleys waiting for a hospital bed last month than any June since 2022 during the pandemic, new figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show.

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

Rotunda Hospital row
ieExplains: Why is the health minister so critical of HSE South West? 
Controversy erupts after Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked why she should fund further beds around Cork when beds in Mallow are lying empty

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

A hospital trolley
S Fergus Finlay: No socket, no pillow, not an extra blanket to be found — my night in A&E
The health service is in many ways as good as any in the world — but when it isn't, it's for stupid, unnecessary reasons, writes Fergus Finlay

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

CUH theatre nurses set for ballot on industrial action
CUH theatre nurses set for ballot on industrial action
The INMO will ballot members in Cork University Hospital’s theatre department amid concerns over staffing shortages, hours owed, and what it described as unsafe working conditions

Wed, 27 May, 2026

Team of medical staff in personal protective equipment walking in hospital corridor
'Doctors have gone into work day after having a miscarriage because teams are so short-staffed'
Unions tell health committee how staff shortages directly impact doctors facing personal tragedies

Wed, 20 May, 2026

Patients in 'inhumane' conditions at UHL due to overcrowding
Patients in 'inhumane' conditions at UHL due to overcrowding
Privacy and dignity issues aired amid concern that plans for a new Limerick regional hospital will be put on back burner until smaller hospitals improve

Tue, 12 May, 2026

Cork ICU nurse: It’s a very stressful, sad place to work at times
Cork ICU nurse: It’s a very stressful, sad place to work at times
CUH nurse calls for better supports for nurses working in ICU units

Mon, 11 May, 2026

'Serious risks to patients remain' at University Hospital Limerick, doctors warn
'Serious risks to patients remain' at University Hospital Limerick, doctors warn
The risks include severe overcrowding and an excessive number of patients waiting on trolleys for hospital beds, cared for by exhausted staff

Mon, 11 May, 2026

HSE chief defends €127k spend on bike shed at Kerry Hospital
HSE chief defends €127k spend on bike shed at Kerry Hospital
HSE chief executive Anne O’Connor also acknowledged 'the reality of hospital overcrowding' to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation conference today

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Nurses moving patient on stretcher in hospital
'My back is gone, my hips are gone, my knees are gone,' says former emergency department nurse
We’ve had children in our emergency department as admitted patients waiting on beds for up to 24 hours

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Last month was worst April for hospital overcrowding in 20 years of recording trolley numbers
Last month was worst April for hospital overcrowding in 20 years of recording trolley numbers
'The levels of stress and burnout we are seeing here should be considered a national crisis,' said Phil Ní Sheaghdha

Wed, 06 May, 2026

Hospital Hallway with Doctors, Nurses and Specialists in Hospital. Female and Male Physicians, Surgeons, Healthcare Officials Wa
Hospital overcrowding hits record April high with 11,175 patients on trolleys, INMO says
Union warns staffing shortages and system pressures are driving rising trolley numbers despite relatively mild conditions across the health service

Fri, 01 May, 2026

nurses in the hospital corridor
Overcrowded hospitals leaving nurses 'running on fumes', says INMO
'We used to be shocked when we saw 500 patients on trolleys in the middle of winter, but we’ve never seen over 500 patients daily in the spring, coming into the summer.'

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Hospital corridor with gurneys
'Extremely concerning': More than 3,400 patients on trolleys in the past week
Also, data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that 765,848 people were on hospital waiting lists across the country at the end of March

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

A mother's quest for truth: Seven years since Eve Cleary's death
A mother's quest for truth: Seven years since Eve Cleary's death
Family still looking for 'full investigation' into daughter's death Eve Cleary, seven years on

Fri, 10 Apr, 2026

Patient care
Delayed discharges ‘frightening’, Labour says as pressure mounts on hospitals
Opposition raises alarm over sustained rise in delayed discharges, warning of growing pressure on emergency departments and older patients

Sat, 04 Apr, 2026

More than 11,000 patients spent night on hospital trolley in March - INMO
More than 11,000 patients spent night on hospital trolley in March - INMO
1,701 without bed at University Hospital Limerick, 939 at Cork University Hospital, and 924 at Sligo University Hospital

Wed, 01 Apr, 2026

Hospital paid almost €500k to two firms run by HSE doctors to tackle waiting lists
Hospital paid almost €500k to two firms run by HSE doctors to tackle waiting lists
An audit also found consultants on National Treatment Purchase Fund projects were paid a fee per patient which is not how HSE salaries or overtime rates normally work

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Midwest Hospital Campaign want judicial review of planned site for new hospital in Limerick
Midwest Hospital Campaign want judicial review of planned site for new hospital in Limerick
The preference of the campaign group was to have this second hospital in Clare or Tipperary

Thu, 12 Mar, 2026

New HSE Mid West hospital plan 'must progress without delay'
New HSE Mid West hospital plan 'must progress without delay'
Doctors and trade unions welcome the commitment to build on the Raheen 44-acre site, and say momentum must continue now

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

On the ground at the proposed site of the Mid-West's new hospital
On the ground at the proposed site of the Mid-West's new hospital
This site will be one of Ireland's largest hospital sites; slightly bigger than University Hospital Limerick and comparable to large hospitals in Cork or Galway

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

44-acre site in Limerick confirmed as location of new hospital in Midwest 
44-acre site in Limerick confirmed as location of new hospital in Midwest 
The greenfield site is currently occupied by cows and there is not yet a timeline for when construction might begin

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

Holding hands, patient and family by hospital bed for support, sick and empathy for wellness. People, care and console for perso
Fergus Finlay: I survived a health scare and learned something profound
After a few weeks in hospital, I've learned about love and support and working through, and how remarkable my family is

Tue, 10 Mar, 2026

HSE to acquire 43 acres of land at Raheen to ease pressure on UHL
HSE to acquire 43 acres of land at Raheen to ease pressure on UHL
It comes after an analysis of emergency services across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in the wake of a series of tragedies, including the death of teenager Aoife Johnston

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Government may set Rotunda Hospital as critical infrastructure to be rushed through planning
Government may set Rotunda Hospital as critical infrastructure to be rushed through planning
Minister Jack Chambers wants the critical infrastructure legislation to 'change the risk-averse nature of how decisions have been made across the public service'

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Bernard Gloster hoping to make big announcement for Limerick before he leaves HSE
Bernard Gloster hoping to make big announcement for Limerick before he leaves HSE
In his final weeks as HSE CEO, Bernard Gloster talks about issues in the Mid-West, nursing homes, Camhs, children's hospitals, and the HSE's disability services

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

CC ROTUNDA HOSPITAL
Refusal of Dublin hospital's new wing 'short-sighted', says medical organisation
The Irish Medical Organisation said the Government needs to designate healthcare as 'critical infrastructure'

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Number of patients on trolleys falls in 17 hospitals
Number of patients on trolleys falls in 17 hospitals
Some 463 people were on trolleys waiting for a hospital bed on the Tuesday after the bank holiday

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

CC ROTUNDA HOSPITAL
New wing at Dublin hospital refused after objections by conservation group
An Coimisiún Pleanála pointed out that the Rotunda Hospital's new Critical Care Wing would have 10 times the floor area of the outpatients building

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Patients to be treated at private hospital in HSE plan to ease UHL overcrowding
Patients to be treated at private hospital in HSE plan to ease UHL overcrowding
The plan would see some patients at UHL treated and cared for at the €213m private Bon Secours Hospital Limerick which opened in September 2024 

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Discussion of healthcare reforms in Mid-West 'has gone quiet', warns patients' group
Discussion of healthcare reforms in Mid-West 'has gone quiet', warns patients' group
Chairman of the HSE Mid West Patient & Service User Council, John Wall, expressed frustration that a development board has not yet been set up.

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Injury units across Midwest treated more than 50,000 people last year
Injury units across Midwest treated more than 50,000 people last year
But University Hospital Limerick's emergency department remains under severe pressure, HSE figures show

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Virtual urgent care service diverts 4,000 patients from Cork and Kerry hospital A&Es in its first year
Virtual urgent care service diverts 4,000 patients from Cork and Kerry hospital A&Es in its first year
The clinical director of emergency and acute care at CUH, Professor Conor Deasy, said: 'Often, patients can bypass the emergency department entirely and access their care directly.'

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

HSE CEO advises people to avoid emergency departments in areas if at all possible
HSE CEO advises people to avoid emergency departments in areas if at all possible
HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said hospitals in Cork and Kerry are facing “significant pressures” from overcrowding.

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill faces defining year on hospitals, overcrowding and agency spend
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill faces defining year on hospitals, overcrowding and agency spend
Elective hospitals, overcrowding, long-awaited inquiries and spiralling costs will define a crucial year for the health minister

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital
Cork and Kerry hospital patients have a worse experience than those in Dublin, minister admits
Mallow Hospital runs a transfer from the Cork University Hospital (CUH) programme. This saw 705 patients transferred in the first 10 months of 2024, a project update stated

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

'She was screaming': Cork woman left lying on icy ground for hours due to ambulance delay
'She was screaming': Cork woman left lying on icy ground for hours due to ambulance delay
Family say ambulance delays left a woman with additional needs on icy ground for hours as vehicles queued outside CUH

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Hospital surgery corridor
HSE urges alternatives as CUH and Kerry hospitals overwhelmed by flu and weather injuries
Flu outbreaks, icy conditions and delayed discharges are driving high trolley numbers across hospitals in Cork and Kerry

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Hospital corridor with gurneys
Cork records the day's biggest numbers on trolleys as hospitals expect influx of flu patients
High numbers of flu patients are expected again this month, as well as more illnesses linked to the cold weather

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Cork and Limerick among worst hit as hospital overcrowding varies widely across Munster
Cork and Limerick among worst hit as hospital overcrowding varies widely across Munster
New INMO data highlights major disparities between Munster hospitals, with overcrowding levels varying dramatically from site to site

Thu, 01 Jan, 2026

Vigil in memory of University Hospital Limerick patients as overcrowding pressures continue
Vigil in memory of University Hospital Limerick patients as overcrowding pressures continue
'There are a lot of promises being thrown around, but there are no timelines yet'

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

A deep dive into the Government's solution to UHL's overcrowding crisis
A deep dive into the Government's solution to UHL's overcrowding crisis
The Government seems to have finally recognised there is an overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick, but will they follow through on their plans to resolve the situation in the Mid-West?

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

HSE expands 'virtual ward' service to all of its seven regions
HSE expands 'virtual ward' service to all of its seven regions
A technology kit allows patients to go home, instead of staying in hospital, and healthcare staff can monitor them remotely

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

New hospitals for Midwest welcomed but campaigners raise timeline concerns
New hospitals for Midwest welcomed but campaigners raise timeline concerns
Melanie Cleary and Marie McMahon have been prominent voices in the Midwest Hospital Campaign

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

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Mick Clifford
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