The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has expressed serious concern about bed shortages in hospitals nationwide.

According to the organisation, current government investment in additional beds “is not keeping pace with population growth” and as a result, this issue “will worsen unless rapid action is taken”.

The IMO made its comments after it emerged that over 700 patients were left waiting for a hospital bed on trolleys and chairs on Tuesday morning after the bank holiday weekend.

It also described as “shocking” the recent revelation that just 162 new beds will be added to the public hospital system this year.

It highlighted that being unable to move admitted patients to a ward in a timely manner leads to poorer health outcomes for patients and also creates intolerable working conditions for staff.

According to the chair of the IMO’s Consultant Committee, Prof Matthew Sadlier, 5,000 additional beds are needed to provide adequate care to the population.

“The dire shortage of beds adds to overcrowding in hospitals and emergency departments, longer waiting lists and poorer patient outcomes. The idea that just 162 additional beds will be added to the stock this year is shocking and confirms that a long-standing bed shortage will get worse this year, not better,” he commented.

The IMO pointed to international figures which show that the average in Europe is 3.87 acute beds per 1,000 of the population. In Ireland, this figure is 2.7 beds per 1,000.

It has previously suggested the use of modular builds to provide additional capacity at hospitals that are under particular pressure.

“We need a meaningful increase in the number of additional, not replacement, beds. This crisis will persist until we have sufficient beds and doctors to meet the needs of growth in our population and address the complexity of care required,” Prof Sadlier added.