The number of patients left waiting on hospital trolleys last month was 19% higher than during the same time last year, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

It carried out an analysis of its trolley/ward watch figures and found that during August 2014, 4,648 patients were left waiting on trolleys in hospitals nationwide, compared to 3,913 in August 2013.

Some hospitals recorded big jumps in figures when compared to the same time last year. For example, the Mater in Dublin had 82 people waiting on trolleys in August 2013, but in August 2014, this rose to 285. Naas General Hospital saw a jump from 40 patients last year to 230 this year, Letterkenny General saw an increase of seven to 152 and University Hospital Galway recorded an increase of 146 to 319.

The news was not all bad, with some hospitals recording a fall in their trolley waiting list figures. These included Connolly Hospital in west Dublin, falling from 464 last year to 271 this year, Cavan General Hospital, which fell from 228 to 42 and Waterford Regional Hospital, which fell from 180 to 47.

However, according to the INMO the overall figures ‘confirm the increasingly negative trend that has existed throughout the summer months'. Some 8% more people were on trolleys in July 2014 compared to July 2013.

The organisation insisted that these figures ‘represent a dire warning for the entire health system and the Government', noting that the country is now approaching the traditionally busy period of autumn and winter.

According to INMO general secretary, Liam Doran, these figures are ‘truly shocking.

"The figures represent a clear warning that our health service has already cut back too deeply. We cannot talk about an economic recovery benefitting everyone while we are facing such unacceptable pressure in our health service," he commented.

He called on the Government to open closed beds and to deal adequately with the staffing crisis.

"The winter is coming and we must prepare accordingly. Therefore, the patient comes first and budgets must respond to need not bureaucrats," Mr Doran added.