Almost 12,000 patients admitted to Irish hospitals without beds in December - INMO

Almost 12,000 patients were admitted to Irish hospitals without a bed in December. 

That's according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which recorded a total of 11,842 patients in overcrowded hospitals this month. 

It comes as the organisation confirms over 121,318 patients including 2,777 children went without a bed in 2022, making it the worst year for overcrowding on record. 

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said, "Our members have spent this year working in a constant state of crisis. Nurses are unfortunately ending this year how they started it ­— firefighting intolerable overcrowding coupled with highly transmissable viruses and infections. INMO members in triage and emergency departments in Ireland’s busiest hospitals are highlighting how the conditions are comprising patient safety." 

University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded hospital nationwide in 2022 with 18,028 patients admitted without beds, followed by Cork University Hospital (12,439 patients) and University Hospital Galway (10,150).

She continued: "[Five hundred and seventy] patients are without a bed in Irish hospitals today, we know from experience that in the first weeks of January that trolley figures could have the potential to nearly double. The State cannot walk into the next week unprepared for what could be a severe overcrowding crisis.

"We have had silent acceptance from Government and the HSE on this type of overcrowding for far too long. The HSE have acknowledged that things are going to get worse in our hospitals before they get better but have not outlined what precise supports will be made available to our members in the coming days and weeks ahead.

"The HSE has a duty as an employer and as a service provider to take the necessary steps to scale up capacity. The current state of our health system is extremely concerning. The INMO has called for the HSE to have a realistic plan. We cannot allow a drift into this dangerous situation emerging across the country." 

Just three hospitals across Ireland are free from overcrowding today (December 30) including University Hospital Waterford, Beaumont Hospital and National Children's Hospital Tallaght. 

University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded Irish hospital with 84 patients waiting for beds, while 73 people are waiting at Cork University Hospital.