Over 400 patients waited on trolleys at Portlaoise hospital so far this year

More than 400 patients were left waiting on trolleys at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise so far this year, according to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).

The busiest month was February when 106 patients went without a bed at the hospital, 98 were on trolleys during both March and April, 79 in May and 64 in January. 

On Thursday the HSE made a public appeal to due to pressure for space to accommodate patients at Portlaoise hospital.

"The Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise is experiencing a very busy period with a significantly increased number of people requiring admission to the Hospital. Where possible, the management at Portlaoise Hospital is asking patients with non-emergency conditions to seek assistance from other parts of the health service such as their local Pharmacist, GP, GP out of hours service, or a local injury unit," it said.

Nationally over 1,591 patients have been on trolleys so far this week according to the INMO. 

 INMO Director of Professional Services, Tony Fitzpatrick described the figure as 'out of control'. 

"This type of overcrowding is not normal for the month of May," he said. 

"This level of unacceptable overcrowding coupled with the fact that nurses and midwives are constantly working short in many emergency departments and wards because of the HSE’s recruitment freeze is bad news for patient and staff safety.

"Many funded nursing vacancies that are arising because of staff retiring, leaving or going on maternity leave are remaining unfilled because of the recruitment freeze. This is having a detrimental impact on staff morale and wellbeing. We have many reports of nurses being interviewed for posts and accepting posts, but no start dates have been provided to them. The freeze is still in place when there is unprecedented demand on our health services meaning that various departments and community services are working short.

"This level of overcrowding warrants a serious response from the HSE and individual hospital groups and cannot be allowed to continue into the summer. All vacant nursing and midwifery posts must be filled immediately by lifting the recruitment moratorium."