At least 171 people on hospital trolleys today

There are at least 171 patients sleeping on hospital trolleys in Irish hospitals today, according to the latest count from the Irish Nurses Organisation.

The worst offender, according to the INO figures, is Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with 33 patients. Nineteen are on trolleys in Dublin’s Mater Hospital , 16 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, and 14 in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick.

Figures for Monaghan General Hospital are not available.

A representative for Beaumont Hospital disputed the findings however, claiming that the figure included 10 patients in the admissions lounge under the care of the hospital in proper beds.

“As of 1pm today, the number of patients in Admissions was 14,” said a spokesman for the hospital.

“The figure also does not take into account the length of time taken on trolleys,” he said.

“Records over the past few weeks show that Beaumont is one of the better performers in this area.”