HSE promises 400 extra beds by year end

The HSE has said 400 extra beds will be opened at hospitals across the country before the end of the year.

It comes after Tallaght Hospital (pictured) yesterday apologised unreservedly to a 91-year-old man with Parkinson's who spent 29 hours on a trolley there.

Yesterday, there were 439 sick people waiting on trolleys and wards in emergency departments across the country, and deputy general secretary of the INMO Dave Hughes warned that when the weather turns wintry, the problem will get worse.

Mr Hughes said: "There were almost 8,000 people on trolleys for the month of October, that has never happened before.

National Director for Acute Hospitals with the HSE Liam Woods said: "We're going to see over 400 beds come into place during this month and December.

"There are beds being added in Limerick, the Mercy Hospital in Cork, Letterkenny and 16 new beds in Tallaght, (among others)," he said.