1,763 forced to wait for beds in hospitals serving Tipperary in May

A total of 1,763 patients were forced to wait without hospital beds in hospitals serving Tipperary in May. Both South Tipperary General Hospital and University Hospital Limerick, which serves north Tipperary, recorded their worst May ever for overcrowding.

Nationally 9,015 admitted patients were forced to wait without hospital beds over the month according to a new monthly analysis by the INMO.

This is a 114% increase on May 2006, when figures began. 
 
Among the 9,015 patients were 78 children.

The worst-affected hospitals last month were:

University Hospital Limerick: 1,102 patients

Cork University Hospital: 824 patients

South Tipperary General Hospital: 661 patients 

Naas General Hospital: 479 patients

Letterkenny University Hospital: 477 patients

INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: 

“We are entering the milder summer months, when predictable  seasonal illnesses are lower yet the level of overcrowding is worsening. Overcrowding in May 2019 is now at the same level as January 5 years ago. Clearly this is a capacity deficit and requires immediate investment in additional hospital beds.

“Considering the evidence of this continued increasing activity in our public health service, it is simply unacceptable that the HSE and Department of Health have introduced a recruitment pause. We know that this will simply lead to a chronic understaffing and overcrowding problem without any regard to person-centred solutions.

“Overcrowding and understaffing mean patients take longer to recover. That means worse care, higher costs, and greater risk of infection. Investment in beds and safe staffing is key to resolving this ongoing crisis.”