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FIGURES collated by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that, up to Tuesday, December 20, there were 3,371 patients waiting on trolleys in University Hospital Kerry this year.
While this figure was higher than in 2020 and 2021, it was still lower than the high of 3,610 in 2019. There were 27 patients waiting on trolleys yesterday at UHK.
Nationally, the INMO says 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.
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INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “Today’s [Tuesday’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. 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.”
“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,” she said.
