The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has once again called on the HSE and Government to take urgent action after recording record trolley figures in Irish hospitals in June.
Just under 10,000 patients went without a bed across the State in June, with 828 people waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Galway last month.
Only University Hospital Limerick (1,829) and Cork University Hospital (1,059) recorded more patients on trolleys throughout the month.
It was the worst June on record since the INMO began counting trolleys in 2006.
Following the publication of the TrolleyWatch figures, the INMO has called on the HSE to convene the Emergency Department Taskforce as a matter of urgency.
The organisation also wants the Government to re-introduce mask wearing in congregated public spaces.
“It has been a June like we have never seen in Irish hospitals with out-of-control hospital overcrowding coupled with rising COVID hospitalisations,” said Phil Ní Sheaghdha, the INMO’s general secretary.
“In 16 years of counting trolleys, we’ve never seen June figures higher than the preceding January.
“Nurses are constantly raising the dangers associated with overcrowding in their workplaces, however the figures for the month of June are out of control and a stark warning of what is to come for the autumn and winter period, considering none of the mitigation measures necessary are being implemented.”
“This level of overcrowding warrants senior HSE and government attention, it is not OK and it is not safe.”
