Number of patients on trolleys at UHL approaches record level

THERE are 124 patients waiting on trolleys at University of Hospital Limerick (UHL), according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The high figure is just two off the hospital’s record number of patients waiting for a bed which was 126, recorded on April 21, 2022.

Of these patients, 63 are in the emergency department whilst 61 are in other wards around the hospital.

UHL is also the only hospital to have over 100 patients waiting for a bed nationwide.

The recording follows yesterday's (Tuesday) total of 105. Yesterday the INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: "We are seeing yet another predictable post-bank holiday surge in hospital overcrowding.”

UHL once again records the highest number of patients waiting for a bed across the country, making up over 17% of the national total of 712.