THE number of patients left waiting on trolleys in Cork University Hospital increased by 350% last month, according to the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
The nursing union is warning that patient safety is being compromised by overcrowding in emergency departments all across the country.
At CUH, there were 399 patients on trolleys in the emergency department and on wards during the month of August — up from 115 in August 2014 and 261 in August 2013.
At the Mercy University Hospital, there were 98 patients on trolleys during August, which was down from 130 the previous year.
The surge in trolley numbers is putting patients at risk, according to the INMO, who are warning that the situation will worsen during the autumn and winter months.
INMO general secretary Liam Doran said: “This is the fourteenth month in a row when, year on year, the level of overcrowding has deepened with patient care compromised on a daily basis as a result.
“We are now beginning the early autumn/winter period, which will only see, in the absence of emergency measures, the overcrowding situation worsen still further as demand continues to grow against the background of staff and bed shortages.
“The government must accept the request for additional funding from the HSE. The additional resources being sought are required to allow the health service meet existing demand in a quality assured and patient sensitive manner.”
Across the country, there was a 40% increase in patients on trolleys in August.
The INMO Executive Council will meet next Tuesday to consider the situation and prepare a response on behalf of frontline members who are “tired of being told the situation is getting better”.
“The situation is getting worse and will continue to do so until significant additional bed capacity is introduced,” the INMO said in a statement.
The union is calling for a meeting of the Government’s High Level Implementation Group to agree measures to alleviate this crisis.