Fivefold increase in the number of children on hospital trolleys

The INMO has expressed 'particular concern' over St Vincent’s University Hospital, University Hospital Tipperary, University Hospital Galway, and Ennis Hospital — all of which have seen their trolley numbers increase tenfold. 

The rapid rise in trolley numbers across the country has seen five times as many children waiting for beds in hospital during October compared to the same time last year.

That’s according to the monthly Trolley Watch figures compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which show the number of patients on trolleys almost doubled during October when compared to the same time last year.