INMO demands action as 21 patients left on trolleys in Mayo University Hospital 

PATIENTS and healthcare workers are said to be dealing with ‘almost impossible conditions’ as 21 people were treated on hospital trolleys in Mayo Univerisity Hospital this morning. 

Concerns were raised last week when 38 people - the highest in 2024 so far - were left on trolleys in the Castlebar hospital. 

Today (January 27, 2025), eight patients were being treated in the emergency department while the other 13 were being treated on wards. 

The hospital has seen an extremely high level of presentations following a surge in respiratory illnesses in December. 

The Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation have described the number of people being treated without a bed in Irish hospitals as ‘very concerning. A total of 682 people across the state were treated on hospital trolleys this morning. 

“Dangerous levels of overcrowding are not confined to one or two hospitals, we are seeing extremely high numbers of patients being treated in inappropriate spaces right across the country,” said INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha. 

Ms Ní Sheaghdha called for the HSE to immediately outline how it plans to discharge patients ahead of the bank holiday weekend. 

“The sheer number of patients on trolleys is not helped by the fact that practically all hospitals are running short because of the HSE recruitment freeze which is having a detrimental impact on patient and staff safety,” she added. 

“We are continuing to hear from our members that vulnerable patients are being placed on infection control and other high-risk wards, despite nursing staff identifying significant risks. This practice needs to end.

“It is clear that there has been no let up for patients and nursing staff trying to care safely in impossible conditions.”