Over 400 people treated on trolleys at MUH in September
More than 100 people lost their lives at the Emergency Department at Mayo University Hospital over a five-year period.
Over 400 people were treated on trolleys at Mayo University Hospital in September.
Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) show 423 were without a bed in September.
This is an increase from the 336 treated on trolleys in September last year.
Hospital overcrowding was an issue across the West, with 884 patients on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital.
At University Hospital Galway, 1,061 patients were without a bed.
In total, 12,274 patients were treated on trolleys across the country in September.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni 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.
“The HSE must begin to recruit additional staff immediately, and remove all obstacles to recruitment being faced by senior nurse and midwife managers, or we will see catastrophic safety incidents occurring in acute settings this winter.
“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.”
