Nurses warn on bed closures after 541 patients on trolleys yesterday

There were 541 patients on trolleys yesterday waiting for a hospital bed, and there are fears the situation could become critical if nurses vote for industrial action.

The result of a ballot of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s (IMNO) 40,000 members is expected later this week over staff shortages and pay.

The INMO, which counted the 541 admitted patients on trolleys yesterday, found the total was 63% higher than the same day last year when there were 331.