50 per cent drop in patients waiting on trolleys in Navan Hospital in 2018

Our Lady's Hospital Navan saw a 50 per cent drop in the number of patients waiting on trolleys last year.

Figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation also saw Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda see
500 fewer patients on trolleys in 2018.

But these figures were against the trend nationally.

108,227 patients went without hospital beds in the last year – a record high, according to new analysis released today
(Wednesday) by the INMO.
 
The figures are a 9% increase on 2017, which was itself a record high. This is nearly double the number in 2006 (55,720),
when INMO records began.
 
The worst-hit hospitals included:
Limerick University Hospital – 11,437
Cork University Hospital – 9,135
Galway University Hospital – 7,452
Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore – 5,831
Tallaght University Hospital – 5,432

Smaller hospitals also saw record overcrowding. South Tipp General Hospital, for example, had 5,201 patients on trolleys
this year.

Our Lady's Hospital, Navan  saw 1,265 patients waiting on trolleys compared to 2,435 in 2017. 
Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda  saw 2,233 patients as against 2,791 the previous year.

 
The INMO blames the crisis on low capacity and understaffing. The organisation has asked the government to work with
the INMO to develop real proposals that will resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in nursing.
 
This has not happened, and 95% of INMO nurses and midwives voted in favour of industrial action. The INMO Executive
will meet on the 7th and 8th of January to set dates for strikes.
 
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
 
“Despite the government spin, 2018 was the worst year on record for overcrowding. Negative records were set throughout
the year, with over 100,000 admitted patients forced to wait on trolleys and chairs, without a proper bed. We know that this
dramatically worsens outcomes for our patients.
 
“The health service does not have enough beds to support our population. More beds means more nurses, but the HSE
simply can’t hire enough on these wages. It’s beyond time for the government to engage proactively with the INMO to
resolve the crisis in Irish nursing and midwifery.
 
“Patients should be focused on recovering, but instead have to worry about waiting times, understaffing and a lack of beds.
2019 must see real changes in policy and funding to resolve this once and for all.”