Sligo University Hospital has been named one of the most overcrowded hospitals in Ireland, according to the latest figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) for November. A total of 626 patients were left waiting for a hospital bed at the facility over the past month, making it the fourth most overcrowded hospital in the country.
Despite the alarming numbers, the report shows a significant improvement compared to November 2023, when 804 patients faced similar delays at Sligo University Hospital. This marks a reduction in overcrowding by 178 patients year-on-year.
In contrast, Letterkenny University Hospital saw an increase in overcrowding. The November 2024 figures reveal that 401 patients waited for a bed, compared to 341 during the same period last year.
Nationally, over 10,561 patients were treated without a bed across Irish hospitals in November, highlighting a persistent issue of overcrowding in the healthcare system.
The INMO has renewed its call for urgent action, emphasizing the need to lift recruitment caps and implement the government’s safe staffing framework to address the growing crisis. The organization warns that without these measures, overcrowding will continue to compromise patient care and hospital efficiency.
