INO: Fourfold jump in patients on trolleys at Naas hospital

The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) today claimed a 405% increase in the number of patients on trolleys at Naas General Hospital in July compared to the same period last year.

The INO in a statement said an 'overflow' ward in the hospital was closed this summer due to the impact of the moratorium on recruitment in the public services.

"This overflow ward had 24 beds which are now effectively closed for the foreseeable future," INO Industrial Relations Officer Derek Reilly said.

"Naas General Hospital is not getting approval for the replacement of staff nurses as they leave through retirement and is also not able to replace staff nurses on maternity leave," Mr Reilly added.

"The situation in Naas shows that it is only frontline services and the general public who are suffering the consequences of poor management at senior levels within the HSE.”

Mr Reilly described as "worrying" the high numbers of patients on trolleys during the summer period and said high winter overcrowding can only get worse this year unless the HSE at national level allows for the replacement and recruitment of nurses.