More than 8,800 patients were left waiting on trolleys in hospitals nationwide last month, although this marked a small reduction on the numbers waiting during the same period in 2015, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has said.

According to its ‘Trolley Watch' figures, 8,885 patients were on trolleys last month, compared to 9,657 in February 2015 - a reduction of 8%.

A number of hospitals showed big reductions last month when compared with February 2015, including:
-Letterkenny General Hospital (527 on trolleys in February 2015 compared to 154 last month)
-Connolly Hospital in Dublin (502 in February 2015 compared to 237 last month)
-Wexford General Hospital (313 in February 2015 compared to 86 last month).

However, a number of hospitals also recorded increases in the number of patients left on trolleys. In February 2015, 410 patients were on trolleys in Cork University Hospital. Last month, this figure was 603 - an increase of almost 200 patients.

Other hospitals which recorded an increase included St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin (532 in February 2015 compared to 705 last month) and Waterford University Hospital (201 in February 2015 compared to 354 last month).

According to the INMO, this shows that while there has been some increased bed capacity, the health service continues to be under ‘unsustainable pressure'.

"While this marginal reduction is welcome, the figures confirm we continue to face a deep crisis with regard to Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding. The INMO continues to implement the recent agreement brokered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which includes a system wide escalation policy and the requirement to recruit additional staff," commented INMO general secretary, Liam Doran.

The organisation is due to hold a national meeting of its ED representatives next week to review the implementation of this recent agreement.