Almost 13,000 patients have been left without a bed at the region’s main hospital so far this year, in a record year for overcrowding.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says there has already been more patients on trolleys this year than in any other year in total, since records began.
Though it’s only November, the INMO has revealed that the total number of patients left on trolleys at Irish hospitals so far this year has already surpassed last year’s overall figure.
In total, 108,364 people nationwide have been left without a bed in Irish hospitals across 2019, which is the highest figure for any year on record.
Unsurprisingly, University Hospital Limerick is top of the list.
12,810 people at the Dooradoyle facility have been left waiting on either on a trolley or in an overflow area of a ward across the first 11 months; which is around 2,700 more than the next busiest facility – Cork University Hospital.
In fact, UHL experienced the greatest increase from last year’s total, with figures rising by 12% – or 11,437 overall since 2018.
In contrast, there’s only been 183 patients awaiting a bed at Ennis General so far this year, down slightly on last year’s total of 214.
