Action needed to avoid summer trolley crisis with figures 'extremely concerning'

The call comes as 524 patients were on trolleys on July 1, following on from 7,989 patients who were treated on a trolley, chair, or in another inappropriate bed space nationwide in June

placeholder image — The call comes as 524 patients were on trolleys on July 1, following on from 7,989 patients who were treated on a trolley, chair, or in another inappropriate bed space nationwide in June

At Letterkenny University Hospital this week on Tuesday, there were four patients on trolleys in the emergency ward, with 23 elsewhere

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said that unless urgent action is taken, we will be facing into a summer trolley crisis.

The call comes as 524 patients were on trolleys on July 1, following on from 7,989 patients who were treated on a trolley, chair, or in another inappropriate bed space nationwide in June. At Letterkenny University Hospital on Tuesday, there were four patients on trolleys in the emergency ward, with 23 elsewhere.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “It is extremely concerning that 524 patients are being treated on a trolley, chair or in another inappropriate bed space on July 1. Unless there is intense work to build community services, including an increase in public health nursing, community nursing and home help services, we will be facing into a serious trolley crisis for the rest of summer heading into autumn.

“Nurses and their union should not have to be warning about trolley overcrowding in the height of summer when there are no traditional viral infections circulating. The HSE’s Pay and Numbers Strategy is working against developing community services and is counterproductive when it comes to alternative care pathways. The HSE must outline what steps they are taking to radically reduce overcrowding in each hospital.”