The number of patients left waiting on hospital trolleys continues to increase, with one hospital alone recording over 900 patients on trolleys during the month of September, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

According to its latest ‘Trolley/Ward Watch' figures, 8,101 patients admitted for care were left waiting on trolleys last month in hospitals nationwide. This marks a 7% increase when compared to September 2016, and a 132% increase when compared to September 2007, when 3,494 patients were on trolleys.

University Hospital Limerick recorded the greatest level of overcrowding last month, with 902 patients on trolleys. This was followed by Cork University Hospital (628), University Hospital Galway (598) and University Hospital Waterford (505).

Tallaght Hospital was the most overcrowded Dublin hospital, with 448 patients on trolleys.

The figures also show that between January and September of this year, a total of 73,556 patients were left waiting on trolleys - the highest number for this period since the INMO started compiling these figures in 2006.

This figure is 7% higher than the same period last year and 94% higher than the figure a decade ago (2007), when 37,830 patients were waiting on trolleys during the first nine months of the year.

Commenting on the figures, INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, said that this level of overcrowding, when combined with the ‘abject failure of the HSE to ensure safe staffing levels', has led to a ‘deepening crisis'.

"It is quite clear that in many hospitals, the daily situation is beyond breaking point, with patients left without dignity and privacy. Furthermore, due to the failure to employ additional staff, the care of those patients is being compromised.

"As we enter the winter period, urgent talks are now required with both the HSE and Department of Health, to ascertain what measures, including pay incentives, they intend to put in place in response to the severe shortage of beds and staff," he commented.

He said that in addition to this, the INMO will also be calling upon both HIQA and the Health and Safety Authority to immediately inspect all health facilities where overcrowding is taking place, ‘for the purpose of issuing directives to the HSE to protect patients and staff'.