#Hospital overcrowding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

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

Midwest to get two new hospitals and UHL to undergo expansion, health minister confirms
Midwest to get two new hospitals and UHL to undergo expansion, health minister confirms
One of the new hospitals in the region will have an emergency department

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

UHL urges public to avoid emergency department as 350 people attend in one day
UHL urges public to avoid emergency department as 350 people attend in one day
Hospital warns of severe pressure on its emergency department and asks the public to seek alternative care for non-urgent needs

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Sick couple sneezing together covering mouth with wipes in a park
Up to 1,500 could be hospitalised with flu by Christmas week – minister
A new flu strain 'subclade K' now circulating in Ireland is said to cause more severe symptoms than previous strains of influenza 

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

HSE apologises for 'failings' that led to girl's death at University Hospital Limerick
HSE apologises for 'failings' that led to girl's death at University Hospital Limerick
Inquest into 16-year-old Niamh McNally's death continues

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital
Almost half of elderly A&E patients not treated within nine-hour timeframe
The noise, lights, and lack of sleep all add to health pressures and can lead to worse outcomes or contribute to a greater likelihood of unnecessary deaths, studies have shown.

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Cork hospital to get 24 new beds early in 2026, HSE boss confirms
Cork hospital to get 24 new beds early in 2026, HSE boss confirms
Bernard Gloster also criticised therapists with regard to taking on trainees at today's Oireachtas Health Committee meeting

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Mid-West breaking point: What will it take for the State to fix hospital care in Limerick?
Mid-West breaking point: What will it take for the State to fix hospital care in Limerick?
Doctors, nurses and campaigners urge the Government to treat Hiqa’s warning on Mid-West hospital capacity as a national emergency requiring long-term investment

Sat, 01 Nov, 2025

Government must declare 'capacity emergency' at UHL, hospital's medical board warns
Government must declare 'capacity emergency' at UHL, hospital's medical board warns
"Hiqa stated baldly this is posing a risk to patient safety, so if you don’t regard that as an emergency, I don’t know what is," said Dr Joe Devlin, deputy chairman of the University Hospital Limerick medical board.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Patient receiving chemotherapy at the hospital
Cancer patient's surgery 'was cancelled due to overcrowding'
Irish Cancer Society to tell Oireachtas health committee about delays and failures in treatment

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Limerick welcomes Ireland's first new large hospital in almost 20 years
Limerick welcomes Ireland's first new large hospital in almost 20 years
The Bon Secours Limerick project included a design team of 24 professionals, and features a nature-inspired interior, flower-shaped light fittings, and cutting-edge technology.

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Building another hospital to tackle overcrowding in the Mid-West 'on the table', says minister
Building another hospital to tackle overcrowding in the Mid-West 'on the table', says minister
The minister made the comments at the habitually overcrowded University Hospital, where she officially opened a €105m, 6,700, 96-bed block on Monday

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Mercy Hospital ED under severe strain as patients wait over 24 hours for beds
Mercy Hospital ED under severe strain as patients wait over 24 hours for beds
Mercy University Hospital is struggling with severe overcrowding as 24 patients remain on trolleys and the HSE appeals for alternatives

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Irish hospitals now so overcrowded they breach safe occupancy limits, report finds
Irish hospitals now so overcrowded they breach safe occupancy limits, report finds
Up to 934 extra beds needed in Cork and Kerry, to include up to 123 for day patients and up to 811 for in-patient overnight beds, ESRI data shows

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025

Is Hiqa's UHL review another overcrowding report to be left on a shelf until the next tragedy?
Is Hiqa's UHL review another overcrowding report to be left on a shelf until the next tragedy?
The long-awaited review of what needs to change for patients in Limerick was never going to please everyone, writes Niamh Griffin

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Limerick tops trolley figures again with 138 people awaiting admission 
Hiqa warns Limerick hospital crisis needs urgent action with beds running out in Midwest
Health watchdog warns University Hospital Limerick faces dangerous overcrowding, urging immediate plans to expand capacity or add a second hospital

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week
First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week
The €213m investment in the the Bon Secours hospital includes the first private cardiac cath-lab for the Mid-West region, covering Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, as well as neighbouring counties.

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight
Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight
Michael D Higgins’ poetry forces us to confront Ireland’s failures in caring for its elderly, both within families and at State level

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

In the Hospital Sick Male Patient Sleeps on the Bed. Heart Rate Monitor Equipment is on His Finger.
HSE warns it cannot fill vacancies even with agencies as staff shortage crisis deepens
HSE agency staff spending reached €726m last year, with even vulnerable patients increasingly cared for by temporary workers, new figures reveal

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Hospital surgery corridor
Almost 26,000 assaults on HSE staff over four years 
Wait times blamed for tensions in hospitals

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Hospital Stock
Waiting list for endoscopy test climbs by more than 4,000 in five months despite €24m fund
Endoscopy tests can identify disease, including cancer

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month
More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month
Worst-affected hospital was University Hospital Limerick, with 2,257 people treated on trolleys

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department
Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department
The increase in ED presentations broght about by the rise in covid-19 cases earlier this week prompted hospital chiefs to issue a public appeal for people to consider all care options.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Close up of doctor woman hands typing on laptop siting on a desk at the office
Hospitals dashboard data must be seen in proper context, say consultants
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association called for analysis to reflect outcomes, and not just the volume of patients seen in hospitals

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital
Online hospital dashboard lets public view a wealth of current Irish health data
Department of Health dashboard offers information ranging from waiting lists to spending and staffing 

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture
Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture
News again this week that UHL's A&E appears to be 'out of control' won't cause any surprise - but it will cause stress and worry for thousands of vulnerable patients, writes Siobhain Danaher

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Nurse sitting in a corridor while holding her head
'It just sounds like it’s out of control': Fears raised as UHL still under pressure
INMO counted 86 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick and five in Ennis on Tuesday

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September
Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September
Hiqa says it is waiting for the ESRI to finish an analysis of emergency care demand up to 2030 by region

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds
Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds
Audit found very high occupancy rates of over 95% during 2023 at the units in CHI at Temple Street and CHI at Crumlin hospitals

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention
S Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention
The news that gardaĂ­ are to be rostered to do shifts at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork may have surprised some, but to those of us who have chosen a career in acute healthcare, it is merely a reminder of a grim reality, writes Dr Chris Luke

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Patient beds in hospitals furniture interior decoration
Country will need 8,000 more public hospital beds by 2040, report says
The demand for more hospital beds will come about because of Ireland's growing and ageing population, according to the ESRI report

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Focused in an intense and emotional situation
Three ICUs had no urgent beds for 100-plus days last year
Beaumont Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, and Limerick University Hospital were the worst hit — but almost all Irish hospital ICUs were above 90% capacity for more than 100 days in 2024

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses
Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses
INMO conference delegates call for greater security in hospitals to protect nurses from abuse and harassment

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Latest

Mick Clifford
Mick Clifford

News

Most Read

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited