Nurses report worst January for trollies in Portlaoise hospital since year Covid-19 hit

Frontline staff at Portlaoise hospital have had to deploy more trollies in January than for the same month in the past five years, according to monthly figures from nurses and midwives.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) monthly trolley watch figures also reveal that over 13,972 people have been treated in hospitals without a bed this month, making it the highest month ever recorded for trolley figures. 

Trolley number at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise do not reveal record-breaking levels but 115 people had to be accommodated temporarily in the hospital's Emergency Department (ED/A&E) during the month.

That's the highest number recorded since 2020 when Covid-19 hit the country soon after January. The previous January high was in 2019 when 288 trollies were needed. A record 477 trollies were deployed at the Laois hospital in 2016.

It's possible that a higher number of trollies could have been used at Portlaoise were it not for decision to regularly use beds outside the Emergency Department for short-term use for so-called surge capacity. The HSE defines this as additional inpatient beds in operation temporarily to meet demand e.g. Day Wards / Assessment Units etc.

A recent report by the health service watchdog HIQA found that A&E staff in the Portlaoise hospital depend on the Acute Medical and Surgical Assessment Unit (AMSAU) when patient numbers surge. It found that staff had to use surge capacity on nearly 90% of days from January to the end of May 2024. HIQA says the usefulness of the AMSAU diminishes when used to cope with patient surges.

Feburary has continued the busy trend experienced by Portlaoise hospital during January. The HSE Urgent and Emergency Care Hospital Status report at 8am Tuesday February 4 reported that 12 trollies were filled in the hospital's A&E. It added that surge capacity was used for 22 patients. A further eight patients were ready for discharge but no alternative accommodation was available. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

January was a busy month for some of Portlaoise's sister hospitals in the Midlands and Kildare. Laois stroke victims are brought to Naas General were 499 trollies were used during January. That's the second-highest on record  for the hospital.

The Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore seemed to cope better than Portlaoise and Naas. A total of 73 trollies were used at the hospital which is also the bone fracture treatment hospital for Laois people.

Nurses and Midwives say the figure show record high figures was recorded after they issued several warnings during the month regarding the consistently high level of overcrowding and the risks associated with flu surges and extreme weather.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:

“So few measures were taken to reduce overcrowding this month despite the very clear risks for injury and illness across the country. The result has been the worst overcrowding we have ever seen.

“Trollies have been particularly high over the last week. We are now in yet another bank holiday weekend where the system is totally overwhelmed. It is clear that the HSE has not done everything that they possibly can and that their ‘winter plan’ is failing. The HSE must outline exactly how much private capacity they have acquired from the private sector and confirm that senior decision-makers are on site in each hospital this weekend.

“Only a few short weeks into this year our members are telling us they are exhausted and demoralised. Seeing yet another staggering record broken tells our members the situation is being permitted to get even worse for them and for their patients.

“Nurses and midwives have voted in favour of industrial action because they know that the current recruitment obstacles and the attitude to staffing that’s behind it absolutely need to change under the new government.

“This has been an extremely dangerous and disappointing start to 2025 for nurses, midwives and patients alike. The new government must be laser focused on safe staffing, increasing bed capacity and fulfilling its basic duties for a viable health service and safe workplaces, before this situation is allowed to get even worse,” she said.