Over 9,600 patients were left waiting on trolleys and chairs in hospitals nationwide last month, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

According to its latest ‘Trolley Watch’ figures, a total of 9,603 patients were left waiting without a hospital bed in August, with University Hospital Galway the worst affected hospital (1,166 patients waiting).

It was followed by University Hospital Limerick (1,130) and Cork University Hospital (919).

The worst affected Dublin hospital was St Vincent’s University Hospital (754) while the worst affected children’s hospital was Temple Street Children’s University Hospital (58).

Commenting on the figures, INMO general secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said that the “consistently high” levels of overcrowding recorded throughout the summer months “are sounding the alarm for a very bleak winter unless immediate action is taken by the Minister for Health and the HSE in the form of a fully funded winter plan”.

“This plan should be published prior to the Emergency Taskforce reconvening in September. It is not good enough to publish a plan for winter when healthcare workers and patients are in the throes of a winter crisis,” she insisted.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha noted that for the first time since September 2021, University Hospital Limerick was not the worst affected hospital. She said that this is due in part to the work of the expert review team led by Dr Mike O’Connor who has listened to suggestions by nursing staff and managers with the aim of improving operational processes at the hospital.

“Significant results have been achieved by ramping up the discharge and internal/external patient flow processes through robust implementation by the review team. What has been implemented in University Hospital Limerick in the last six weeks must be replicated in other hospitals with chronic overcrowding problems,” she commented.

Ms Ní Sheaghdha also pointed out that over 1,100 healthcare workers have contracted Covid-19 in the past four weeks alone.

“As we head into a winter of unknowns in our health service, the Minister for Health and senior HSE management must make it their business to take every step that they can to protect nurses, midwives and patients. It is vital that booster Covid and flu vaccines are provided to healthcare workers. The health and safety of our healthcare workforce and patients depends on it,” she added.