Dublin has 40% fewer patients on trolleys

EXTRA bed capacity was the main reason for a 40% reduction in the number of patients on trolleys in Dublin hospitals, nurses claimed yesterday.

Outside the capital, however, there had been a slight increase in patients on trolleys in hospital A&E units, particularly in Letterkenny, Co Donegal and Drogheda, Co Louth along with Cork, Limerick and Mayo.

The Irish Nurses Organisation (INO) said its latest trolley watch analysis confirmed the provision of additional acute beds in the form of transit lounges had eased the situation in Dublin over the last three months.