There were almost 1,000 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Galway in February, making it the third most overcrowded in Ireland.
INMO TrolleyWatch figures show a total of 987 patients admitted to UHG forced to wait on trolleys last month.
This figure was exceeded only by the overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (2,247) and Cork University Hospital (1,070).
INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha warned that multiple bank holiday weekends ahead will put pressure on hospital beds.
“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.”
Morale among hospital staff is dangerously low, she warned, with the HSE’s hiring freeze exacerbating a feeling of helplessness.
“The system of hiring was very slow to begin with but the introduction of a derogation system and a blanket ban on hiring will render very unsafe situations even worse.”
“Directors of nursing and midwifery are now saying population growth has not been factored in, the increased daily activity has not been factored in and they will not be able to stand over levels of care due to the recruitment freeze.”
Nationwide there were 10,991 patients on trolleys across Irish hospitals in the month of February the INMO has said.
