Hospitals already 'overwhelmed' before St Patrick's weekend, INMO warns

Hospitals across the country are overwhelmed with over 400 patients, including 31 children, waiting on a bed on Friday, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association (INMO). 

They say 444 patients, including 31 children, are without a bed in Irish hospitals today.

Hospitals have been described by the INMO as being "overwhelmed" due to staff shortages and a recruitment moratorium. 

The INMO added that 2,528 people have gone without a bed in Irish hospitals this week. 

Commenting on today’s trolley count figures, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Once again we are heading into a bank holiday weekend with an unacceptable amount of patients, particularly young children, being treated on trolleys or chairs. 

“St. Patrick’s weekend is always a very busy weekend for our members. Our members will be working short in many hospitals this weekend as so many patient-facing roles remain vacant. Nurses and midwives are now dealing with very real risks to patient and staff safety when roles continue to remain unfilled because of the moratorium.

“The INMO has made clear to HSE and Government the very real impacts the recruitment moratorium is having on our members and the patients they are trying their best to provide safe care to. They must now reverse their continued position that is leading to staff and patient safety being compromised,” MS Ní Sheaghdha said. 

The HSE has been contacted for a comment.