Risk to CUH patients due to overcrowding, watchdog finds

The report found the waiting time from the decision to admit to actual admission in an inpatient ward ranged from two hours to more than 58 hours

On the day the inspection took place, more than 190 people attended Cork University Hospital's emergency department and Hiqa noted a total of 52 patients had been admitted that were waiting for beds. File picture: Larry Cummins

Cork University Hospital’s (CUH) emergency department is overcrowded and relies on agency nursing staff to maintain staff levels, according to a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).

The unannounced inspection found the emergency department remained overcrowded despite management efforts to alleviate risks. Staffing levels in the emergency department were another concern for Hiqa’s inspectors as they found a reliance on agency nursing staff to ensure safe and sustainable levels.