Laois hospital overcrowding double the pandemic levels

Overcrowding at the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has doubled since the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 but is a lot less than before the virus struck. 

Figures collated by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that more than 118,662 patients have been without a hospital bed so far in 2022, making it the worst year for hospital overcrowding on record. 

Laois hasn’t suffered with the same level of overcrowding as some hospitals but it hasn’t escaped the overcrowding either. 

Of the three major midlands in Portlaoise, Tullamore and Mullingar, Portlaoise had the lowest numbers without a bed in 2022 at 1,032. In the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore that figure was 1,435  and it reached 4,331 at the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. 

The Laois and Offaly hospitals are part of the HSE's Dublin Midlands Hospital Group which includes Naas General, Tallaght and St James's. The Kildare hospital recorded 3,271 on trolleys this year compared to 4,206 pre-pandemic.

At the height of the pandemic in 2020, the INMO recorded 502  patients without beds in Portlaoise, a similar figure of 549 was recorded last year. Pre Covid in 2019, there were 1,845 people without beds at the hospital. 

The INMO says figures across Ireland show no sign of easing. Last week at Portlaoise hospital the INMO recorded 18 patients without beds on December 13 and 12 without beds on December 12.  Although there were no patients waiting for beds at the hospital this morning, nationally the figure was 624.  

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Today’s trolley figures are extremely concerning, with no sign of pressure easing in our emergency departments compared to previous Decembers.” 

“We have reached an overcrowding milestone today in that 2022 is officially the worst year for hospital overcrowding on record. This is not something to be celebrated,” she said. 

“It is clear that there is a dearth of ambition to tackle this extremely serious problem. We commend that some hospital groups have curtailed non-urgent care and asked that people seek alternative care pathways if they can but it is clear that the HSE and the Government are not taking this issue as seriously as they should be.

“Our members are under serious pressure, particularly those working in triage and in emergency departments. Long delays, inadequate bed space and unsafe staffing are making it impossible to provide safe care,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha. 

People urged to stay at home when feeling unwell amid rising Covid-19 and flu cases

“Silence from decision makers shows that this out-of-control overcrowding is accepted when it absolutely shouldn’t be. The State must do better for our nurses, healthcare workers and patients sick enough to be admitted to hospital.”