'The system is totally overwhelmed'- January breaks record for overcrowding in hospitals

The Irish Nurses and Midwifery Organisation has stated that over 13,972 people have been treated in hospitals without a bed this month, making it the highest month ever recorded for trolley figures.

This figure was recorded after the INMO issued several warnings during the month regarding the consistently high level of overcrowding and the risks associated with flu surges and extreme weather.

The most overcrowded hospitals in January were:

University Hospital Limerick – 2,234 patients
Cork University Hospital – 1,573 patients
Galway University Hospital – 1,388 patients
Sligo University Hospital – 852 patients
St Vincent’s University Hospital – 807 patients

“This has been an extremely dangerous and disappointing start to 2025 for nurses, midwives and patients alike. The new government must be laser focused on safe staffing, increasing bed capacity and fulfilling its basic duties for a viable health service and safe workplaces, before this situation is allowed to get even worse,” the INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheghdha said.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said, "So few measures were taken to reduce overcrowding this month despite the very clear risks for injury and illness across the country. The result has been the worst overcrowding we have ever seen.

“Trolleys have been particularly high over the last week. We are now in yet another bank holiday weekend where the system is totally overwhelmed.

It is clear that the HSE has not done everything that they possibly can and that their ‘winter plan’ is failing. The HSE must outline exactly how much private capacity they have acquired from the private sector and confirm that senior decision-makers are on site in each hospital this weekend." the INMO said.

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“Only a few short weeks into this year our members are telling us they are exhausted and demoralised. Seeing yet another staggering record broken tells our members the situation is being permitted to get even worse for them and for their patients.

“Nurses and midwives have voted in favour of industrial action because they know that the current recruitment obstacles and the attitude to staffing that’s behind it absolutely need to change under the new government.

January was "the highest month ever recorded for trolley figures", according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation https://t.co/ncZkjrHuGT

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 1, 2025