Almost 7,000 patients who needed to be admitted to hospital last month found themselves on trolleys either in overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) or wards, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said (INMO).

According to the INMO's latest ‘Trolley/Ward Watch' figures, 6,977 patients were treated on trolleys in Irish hospitals during October of this year, compared to 5,209 patients in October of last year - a rise of 34%.

The hospitals with the highest number of patients on trolleys in October 2014 included Beaumont Hospital in Dublin (658), Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda (631), Connolly Hospital in Dublin (570), University Hospital Galway (505) and University Hospital Limerick (484).

Meanwhile the hospitals with the biggest increase in the number of patients on trolleys between October 2013 and October 2014 included:
-Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, which had 20 patients on trolleys in October 2013 and 413 in October 2014
-Portiuncula Hospital in Galway, which had 18 patients on trolleys in 2013 and 127 in 2014
-Wexford General Hospital, which had 73 patients on trolleys in 2013 and 222 in 2014.

According to INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, this marks the fourth month in a row during which trolley figures have increased when compared to the same period last year.

The trolley figures for September 2014 were 32% higher than September 2013, the August 2014 figures were 19% higher than the August 2013 figures and the July 2014 figures were 8% higher than the July 2013 figures.

"There is no doubt that this worsening situation arises as a direct result of the wholly inadequate budget given to the health service in 2014 to provide services to ill and vulnerable people. As this economy recovers and the Government speaks of growth and economic green shoots, there is no excuse to have growing numbers of ill people on trolleys with no privacy and dignity," he insisted.

He pointed out that the health service is now entering the peak winter period and he warned that some hospitals will simply be unable to cope with the inevitable increase in demand that is expected in the coming weeks.

"The INMO is now calling upon the Government and the HSE to immediately bring forward the €25 million, which is allocated to address delayed discharges in the 2015 budget, so that it is available immediately to provide additional beds, home care packages and frontline staff," Mr Doran added.