The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has reported that 490 patients are waiting for hospital beds in Ireland as of this morning, highlighting ongoing overcrowding in the healthcare system.
According to the INMO’s latest figures:
- 316 patients are waiting in Emergency Departments (EDs)
- 174 patients are on wards awaiting admission
Hospitals Worst Affected
- University Hospital Limerick (UHL): 96 patients waiting for a bed, making it the most overcrowded hospital in the country.
- University Hospital Galway (UHG): 54 patients waiting, with 41 of these in the ED, the highest emergency department figure nationally.
- Sligo University Hospital: 51 patients currently without a bed.
- Mayo University Hospital: 19 patients waiting.
- Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe: 5 patients waiting.
Growing Pressure on Health Services
The numbers underline the ongoing crisis in Irish hospitals, with overcrowded emergency departments and delays in admissions continuing to put strain on staff and patients alike.
The INMO has consistently called for urgent action to address hospital capacity, staffing shortages, and the need for additional resources to tackle persistent overcrowding issues.
