There were over 1,000 patients on trolleys in Galway’s hospitals in February.
University Hospital Galway was the third most overcrowded in Ireland last month, with 775 patients on trolleys.
The only hospitals worse affected were University Hospital Limerick, where a staggering 1,561 patients were left without a bed, and Cork University Hospital which had 1,041 on trolleys.
This was the second worst February on record for UHG since the INMO began counting trolley figures in 2006.
Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe also had a terrible month for pressure on beds, with 243 people on trolleys.
This was also the second worst February on record at Portiuncula, with only 2022 seeing worse numbers.
INMO General Secretary Phil Nà Sheaghdha said, “February was an incredibly challenging month for nurses and midwives working in the Irish public health service with over 10,000 people admitted to hospital for care for whom there were no beds.”
“It is clear that medium and long-term plans are needed to resolve the overcrowding issues in these hospitals.”
“Nurses are working in extremely unsafe conditions. Their workplaces are not just overcrowded, they are also short staffed.”
“When wards are not staffed correctly, it has a very profound impact on the level of care our members are able to provide to patients.”
Nationwide there were 10,040 patients admitted to Irish hospitals who were forced to wait on trolleys last month, 426 of whom were children.
The INMO is asking the HSE and Minister to report whether measures implemented in January had any real impact relieving pressure, and what will be done to prevent future spikes.
Today in Galway there are 50 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Galway, but just 3 at Portiuncula Hospital.
