Cork records the day's biggest numbers on trolleys as hospitals expect influx of flu patients

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) counted 74 people on trolleys at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and 68 in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) among 565 nationally. File photo

More than 560 patients could not get a bed in hospitals on Monday, with 61 people waiting longer than 24 hours, including seven aged over 75.

High numbers of flu patients are expected again this month, as well as more illnesses linked to the cold weather, a leading GP working in Cork predicted.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) counted 74 people on trolleys at Cork University Hospital (CUH) and 68 in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) among 565 nationally. 

The HSE’s own data shows 364 on trolleys and a further 385 on surge beds, meaning day beds pressed into emergency service. This meant 749 people, including those waiting over 24 hours, were unable to go directly to the expected ward bed. 

Dr Diarmuid Quinlan, medical director at the Irish College of GPs, said: “The flu comes on very suddenly, people are fine, and then three or four hours later they are not. 

"It’s fever, headache, hot and cold sweats, low energy and feeling like death warmed up.” 

GPs were supported by the HSE to offer more clinics during their usual hours. Also in Cork and Kerry, the Southdoc GP out-of-hours service doubled its staff numbers.

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“A year ago in the first week of December, Southdoc saw 4,000 patients, and in December this year, it saw 5,000 patients, so up very substantially,” he said.

“Over 90% of those patients were managed in GP out of hours, so the total number referred to hospitals remained much the same (this year) even though Southdoc was seeing a lot more.” 

He urged people to consider vaccination, saying: “The flu always continues through January and well into February or March as well.” 

He also asked people to look out for those vulnerable to the icy weather.