Number of patients on trolleys double 2008 figures

There were almost twice the number of patients on trolleys last month than in March 2008, according to figures provided by the country’s largest nursing union.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the 9,381 patients it recorded as waiting on a trolley for a bed in March was the second-worst figure for overcrowding since its recording began. Only February 2015 was worse at 9,657.

It said the figure for March was a 5% rise on the same month last year and a 100% increase on the 4,701 figure for March 2008.