Trolley figures remain high in Mayo University Hospital 

A total of 19 people were being treated on trolleys in Mayo University Hospital this morning. Of these, four were treated in the emergency department while 15 were on trolleys in wards. 

The figure of 19 is half the figure that was recorded on Monday - the fourth-highest total of any hospital in the country. 

Earlier this week, Mayo University Hospital earlier this week asked the public to consider alternative care pathways after a surge in attendance. 

Castlebar-based county councillor, Harry Barrett, called for Mayo members of the HSE Forum West to walk out of the next meeting of the forum in protest against the conditions in Mayo University Hospital.

Elsewhere, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation calculated that over 10,000 patients have been treated on trolleys so far this year nationwide.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the country was on track to record ‘the worst January for overcrowding since the INMO began counting trolleys in 2006’

“Our members tell us that the age profile and acuity of patients being admitted is noticeably higher. The situation in many hospitals is completely unworkable for our members who are currently trying to offer care in intolerable circumstances,” she said. 

“Nurses and midwives now have additional concerns about their inability to provide safe care due to overcrowded wards. Members are angry that the HSE are insisting on placing patients in totally unsuitable clinical environments contrary to the risks identified by nursing staff. We are hearing of so many incidents of vulnerable patients being placed on infection control wards, despite high risks identified by nursing staff who have been overridden by non-clinical staff, and this is simply unacceptable to clinical nurses who are obliged to advocate for patients.  

“Dramatically reducing the number of patients being treated in inappropriate spaces must be one of the top priorities for the new Minister for Health once they have been appointed later today,” Ms Ní Sheaghdha added.

“Radically scaling up capacity and staffing is the only credible long-term solution to ending the perennial overcrowding crisis”