Overcrowding figures reveal pressure on Mayo University Hospital
Nationally, October was the worst month on record for hospital overcrowding, with 12,672 patients waiting for a hospital bed across the country.
The INMO has reported that 403 admitted patients were treated on corridors, chairs or in other inappropriate locations at Mayo University Hospital during the month of October.
Nationally, October was the worst month on record for hospital overcrowding, with 12,672 patients waiting for a hospital bed across the country, according to the union.
The INMO said the overcrowding crisis continues to worsen year on year, with more than 111,000 patients having been treated on trolleys so far in 2026.
Commenting on the latest figures, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said patients treated on trolleys or chairs faced poorer health outcomes than those receiving care in a hospital bed.
“It is simply disgraceful that patients are being left to languish for hours or days in brightly-lit corridors without privacy or any comfort, while the HSE has made the decision to halt recruitment into existing vacant posts that would allow them to increase bed capacity and expand services.
“This is a complete crisis, with higher numbers of patients than ever being completely let down by the health service. But rather than take steps to improve this situation, the government and the HSE are implementing measures that are guaranteed to make it worse,” she said.
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said investment in healthcare staffing was essential to protecting services and ensuring safe patient care.
“Running a health service is an investment in our society. Behaving as though healthcare staff recruitment and retention is a burden on the state is disconnected from ordinary people who work in the health service and those dependent on the services they provide. This continued lack of targeted investment is going to lead to the services and staff being run into the ground.
“Our members’ calls for safe staffing and increased recruitment come from their experience on the wards, and in communities where they can see the effect of understaffing on their patients and their colleagues,” she said.
“There needs to be an immediate reversal of the Department of Health’s decision to cease recruitment, and a focus on investment, expansion and safety for patients and staff,” she concluded.