HSE defends work of special unit tackling hospital overcrowding

The HSE’s National Integrated Operations and Performance Management and Improvement Unit have been working with hospitals including University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and Cork University Hospital since last spring.

The HSE has defended the work of its special unit which tackles hospital overcrowding, and said hospital managers will have new national standards to meet this winter.

Last month, 7,832 people spent a night in hospital without a bed — down on last year’s record high of 9,191 for July, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) data.