Nearly 300 people admitted to Naas Hospital without a bed in February
11,000 had no beds across the country
A total of 290 people had no bed on admission to Naas General Hospital through the accident and emergency department in February.
Although this was less than the number recorded for February 2023 (349) is comfortably exceeds the numbers of patients who had no bed for that month in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation almost 11,000 patients had no bed in public hospitals across the country.
Unsurprisingly given recent trends the worst affected facility was Limerick University Hospital, which had 2247 patients without a bed.
And this was followed by Cork University Hospital (1070), University Hospital Galway (987), St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin (6561) and Sligo University Hospital (649).
The figure for Portlaoise Hospital was 106 - more than double February 2023 while there was no overcrowding at Tullamore Hospital.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: “The levels of overcrowding this month have not diminished since the St. Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday. With two bank holidays happening in quick succession in March, the HSE must outline what steps they are taking in the run up to St. Patrick’s Day to ensure we don’t have a repeat of February overcrowding.
“Since the end of January, I have been in the majority of hospitals that the INMO counts trolleys in and have witnessed dangerous scenes in many hospitals with patients being treated in completely inappropriate spaces. It is clear that most hospitals are operating at over one hundred per cent occupancy meaning that patients are being cared for in all available spaces which is unsafe.
“Nurses and midwives are highly trained professionals who have a deep appreciation for the provision of safe care for their patients. It is impossible for them to provide care in a safe manner in the current conditions in our public health system. Many are reporting that the intention to leave, whether to retire early, move abroad or move to another position in the community or private sector, is worryingly high.”