More than 12,000 patients treated in ‘inappropriate locations’ in Irish hospitals in September

The INMO has said the HSE must recruit additional staff ahead of the winter season.

Last month marked the worst September on record for hospital overcrowding across Ireland, as more than 12,000 patients were treated in “inappropriate locations”.

This is according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which said the Health Service Executive (HSE) must act immediately to recruit additional staff for hospitals across the country ahead of the winter season.

Phil Ní Sheaghdha, INMO general secretary, said 12,274 patients were treated in inappropriate locations in Irish hospitals last month, with University Hospital Limerick recording the highest number at 1,994.

The second most overcrowded hospital was University Hospital Galway, with 1,061 patients treated in inappropriate locations, followed by Cork University Hospital with 1,008.

Further, St Vincent's University Hospital saw 895 patients treated in inappropriate locations, followed by 884 at Sligo University Hospital.

Calls for immediate action

Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the winter surge has “not really begun in acute settings yet, and we are already approaching the very highest figures we have ever seen for people on trolleys”.

“The HSE must immediately publish its winter plan for the 26/27 season outlining exactly how they intend to radically reduce the number of patients on trolleys,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.

The figures come as 81 people were treated on trolleys or in wards elsewhere in the hospital at University Hospital Limerick on Thursday, followed by 50 at University Hospital Galway, 46 at Cork University Hospital, 53 at St Vincent's University Hospital and 43 at Sligo University Hospital.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the HSE “must begin to recruit additional staff immediately, and remove all obstacles to recruitment being faced by senior nurse and midwife managers”.

“[If not], we will see catastrophic safety incidents occurring in acute settings this winter,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.

“Opening bed spaces and increasing capacity requires additional staff to be hired to meet current needs of the health service, and not the staffing needs of three years ago.”