The level of overcowding at the region’s main hospital over the past month has been desribed as “frightening” by the Irish Patients Association.
The latest INMO figures show trolley numbers jumped by 400% in March, compared to the same month two years ago.
It comes as the Chief Medical Officer is reviewing the isolation period for covid cases.
Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill reports
The Government’s coming under increasing pressure to re-introduce mandatory mask wearing to help curb the spread of covid-19, despite the fact the Health Minister has already ruled this out.
Groups representing doctors and nurses say the current spike in Covid cases is putting huge pressure on the health system.
The Irish Association for Emergency Medicaine says the situation in hospitals is untenable and they’re struggling to keep Covid and non-Covid patients apart.
While the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says hospitals are not safe for patients or for staff because of the level of overcrowding and COVID infection levels combined.
The nurses union’s latest trolleywatch analysis shows 1,671 patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick in March; a 400% increase on the same month two years ago.
Stephen McMahon from the Irish Patients Association has described the figures as “frightening” and says questions remain unanswered as to why the levels of overcrowding in this region remain so high, when that’s not the case elsewhere.
The Chief Medical Officer last night told ministers that the current wave of covid appears to have peaked and a mask mandate is not required.
Dr Tony Holohan is reviewing the current recommendation to isolate for seven days, after which he’ll advise Government.
It’s prompted concern that the situation in hospitals will get even worse, with some health experts appealing to people to wear their masks indoors again.
Professor of Health Systems at DCU, Anthony Staines, says relaxing the rules would be a risk.
There is optimism in some quarters though.
Professor of Immunovirology at UCC, Liam Fanning expects cases to naturally go down as the weather improves.
