Last month was the worst June on record for overcrowding in Irish hospitals, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reports.
Just under 10,000 patients went without a bed in Irish hospitals during the month of June, with University Hospital Limerick being the most overcrowded.
Letterkenny University Hospital is among those facing increased pressure due to Covid-19. As of 8pm last night, the hospital has 40 Covid-19 patients in its care.
The INMO has called on the HSE to take urgent and direct intervention on overcrowding. INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“It has been a June like we have never seen in Irish hospitals with out-of-control hospital overcrowding coupled with rising COVID hospitalisations. In 16 years of counting trolleys, we’ve never seen June figures higher than the preceding January.
“Nurses are constantly raising the dangers associated with overcrowding in their workplaces, however the figures for the month of June are out of control and a stark warning of what is to come for the autumn and winter period, considering none of the mitigation measures necessary are being implemented.”
“This level of overcrowding warrants senior HSE and government attention, it is not ok and it is not safe.”
