THE number of patients waiting in trolleys in the Emergency Department and Wards at Kerry General Hospital in September was 91.

This is an 80 per cent increase on the September 2013 number of 51. It continues the trend reported in August where the figure was up 90 per cent on the same month in 2013.

Nationally it was found that there was a 32% increase in overcrowding, in ED departments and wards in September 2014 as compared to 2013, in hospitals across the country.

The figures, supplied by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association, come amid calls for Government action on what the INMO describes as a crisis in the hospitals with regard to overcrowding, and the negative impact, on the quality of patient care, and staff workloads.

Speaking on Tuesday, INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: “These figures are truly shocking and confirm an increase in overcrowding which should be unacceptable to everyone. We are now one week away from budget 2015. The government needs no further evidence to confirm the absolute need for the health service to receive additional funding for the end of this year and running right through 2015. It is no longer acceptable for the government to delay as it must act, immediately, and ensure our public health service is fit for purpose”.

The figures for patients waiting on trolleys in Kerry General Hospital for September 2007-2014 are:

2007 – 46

2008 – 11

2009 – 16

2010 – 73

2011 – 68

2012 – 59

2013 – 51

2014- 91