A total of 546 patients are waiting for beds in Irish hospitals this morning, it has been revealed.
Nearly 400 people are currently in emergency departments, while 152 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital, according to the latest trolley watch report from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
The worst-hit hospital in the country is University Hospital Limerick, where 76 people are currently on a trolley, followed by Cork University Hospital with 61.
The count includes patients admitted to hospitals across Ireland who are currently receiving treatment on trolleys, but some could be waiting on chairs, in waiting rooms, or wherever else there is space.
It comes as the hardest-hit hospital, University Hospital Limerick, had appealed to the public not to attend the Emergency Department “unless absolutely necessary”, due to ongoing patient overcrowding at the hospital.
A spokesman said yesterday: “The hospital is currently managing high volumes of patients that have arisen due to a busy weekend in the ED, and an increased number of delayed discharges across the Group.
“A total of 250 patients attended the ED from 8am on Monday to 8am this morning, which is 30-40 more patients than were presenting at the Department on Mondays during recent weeks,” they added.
The UL Hospitals Group spokesman continued: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to patients or their loved ones who have experienced long wait times in the ED at UHL, and we would like to reassure patients and their families that we are working to alleviate the situation.
"We also acknowledge the work of our staff and thank them for their continued dedication and commitment to patient care.
“We are urging people to please consider all their care options at this time and not to attend the Emergency Department unless absolutely necessary. It is important that we keep the ED for emergencies only and we encourage the public to do so,” it said.
Patients suffering suspected “broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns” were advised to attend “Injury Units in St John’s, Ennis and Nenagh hospitals’."
