Over 150 patients on trolleys in west

There was 24 patients on trolleys at Mayo University Hospital earlier today and more than 150 people were waiting for a bed in the four hospitals in the west.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives trolley figures confirmed this morning there were 42 patients languishing on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital and 74 patients awaiting a bed at University Hospital Galway.

UHG had the second worst overcrowding in Ireland yesterday behind University Hospital Limerick where 110 patients were on trolleys.

SUH had the fourth highest number of patients waiting for hospital bed in the State after Cork University Hospital where 58 people were awaiting a bed.

There were 11 patients on trolleys at Portiuncula Hospital this morning and 151 patients awaiting admission in the west.

MUH was ninth most overcrowded hospital in the country.

The HSE had warned about an expected increase in number of patients on trolleys in early January as RSV, Covid and flu cases significantly increased.

There was a total of 626 patients waiting for a bed in Irish hospitals earlier today.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha stressed the worrying but predictable increase of patients who have been admitted to hospital without a bed needs immediate action.

"We are seeing high numbers of patients on trolleys in some of our smaller hospitals which is very high risk for patients in these areas," she said. “As we reach the peak of RSV, Covid and influenza infections this week and next, senior decision-makers within the HSE and individual hospital groups must introduce immediate de-escalation measures in some of the worst affected areas."