'Oppressive overcrowding' in hospitals as RSV, covid and flu infections peak

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha says overcrowding makes it harder to treat flu patients.

HSE decision-makers must act immediately to address the overcrowding which is challenging hospitals around the country, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

Oppressive overcrowding is no longer something that is confined to one or two hospitals, INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.

"We are seeing overcrowding challenges in each part of the country, with this predicted to get worse as the week goes on."

RSV, covid and influenza infections are expected to peak this week and next week and there are already high numbers of patients on trolleys in some hospitals.

HSE CEO Bernard Gloster is reportedly predicting a "very challenging week".

On Monday, there were a total of 626 patients waiting for a bed in Irish hospitals, including seven children.

University Hospital Limerick was the worst hit with 110 patients on trolleys — almost double that of Cork University Hospital (58).

The second most overcrowded hospital, according to INMO figures, was University Hospital Galway with 74 patients waiting on a bed, followed by CUH.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha says overcrowding makes it harder to treat flu patients.

"When you have overcrowded wards, inappropriate areas for overnight stays, and an overcrowded ED. When you have an illness such as flu or covid, that is respiratory transmissible, then you are going to see much worse outcomes purely because of the place that the patient is in," she said.

The INMO has called for immediate de-escalation measures to be introduced in the worst affected areas and for all barriers to providing safe care to be removed.

"Our members want to be able to provide safe care to patients but also be assured that their own health and wellbeing is being protected - neither are guaranteed when they are working in overcrowded conditions where respiratory infections are rife," said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.