Woman aged 103 among 9,000 patients left on trolleys last month

More than 9,000 patients were left on hospital trolleys last month, among them a 103-year-old woman.

The elderly patient spent almost 15 hours waiting on a trolley in the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore, before getting a bed.

While she is not reported to be in a serious condition, she was admitted to a hospital bed early yesterday. She attended the hospital’s emergency department yesterday evening and, according to a statement issued by the hospital, was seen within 19 minutes of arrival and was placed under the care of the emergency department team.

“Due to high levels of attendances and admissions currently being experienced by the hospital, our full capacity protocol is in place. The patient received the first available inpatient bed,” the statement read.

Last month was the worst on record for patients languishing on hospital trolleys, since the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation began recording the figures in 2004.

The worst-affected hospitals were University Hospital Limerick, South Tipperary General Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, and University Hospital Galway.