Irish hospitals have recorded their worst overcrowding levels since March, 2020.

According to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) 376 admitted patients were waiting for beds on Monday morning – the highest figure since March 5, 2020.

The worst hit hospital was University Hospital Limerick, with 75 admitted patients waiting for beds. It was followed by Letterkenny University Hospital (31) and Cork University Hospital (30).

The INMO warned that a redeployment of staff has led to the closure or scaling back of some day services, which is putting extra pressure on Emergency Departments (EDs). It also emphasised that infection control and social distancing are compromised when patients are left waiting on trolleys in corridors.

“Although the levels of Covid are reducing, the long-standing trolley crisis is again rearing its head. Our members are seriously concerned that we will swing from the Covid crisis back into an overcrowding crisis. They need to know that the HSE will not tolerate overcrowding, and ensure that safe staffing levels are implemented,” commented INMO president, Karen McGowan.

This was echoed by INMO general secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, who pointed out that while trolley figures were low or non-existent during the pandemic, “we are slipping back into old bad habits”.

“The HSE cannot allow trolley figures to rise and rise. Overcrowding is simply unsafe for patients, especially during a pandemic. It is placing intolerable pressure on an exhausted workforce, who are now working to provide mass vaccinations in addition to a Covid and non-Covid healthcare service,” she said.

The INMO is calling on the HSE and HIQA to urgently intervene in the worst-hit hospitals, particularly University Hospital Limerick. It said that anything that can be done to ensure key staff are not redeployed “must be looked at”.

It has suggested enabling nursing and midwifery students to become paid vaccinators.

“Covid could be a turning point for the Irish healthcare system. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past,” Ms Ní Sheaghdah added.