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THE number of patients waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Kerry in March was the highest for that month since March 2019.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation trolley watch figures for the month showed there were 338 patients waiting on trolleys at UHK compared to 144 in 2021, 169 in 2020 and 360 in 2019.
The INMO confirmed that March 2022 has been the worst March for overcrowding nationwide since the union began counting trolleys in 2006.
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INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “When nurses and midwives use phrases like ‘out of control’ and ‘chaotic’ to describe hospital overcrowding we do not do so lightly. It has been the worst March for overcrowding since our union began counting trolleys in 2006 with 11,001 without beds.
“It has been an extremely busy month for those working in our hospitals with over 37% of those who have been on trolleys since the beginning of 2022 presenting to our hospitals in March.
“Hospitals are currently not safe for patients or for staff because of the level of overcrowding and COVID infection levels. We need clear and coherent public health advice from Government and senior public health officials. The public need to be made aware of why we need them to once again step up to the plate in order to protect those who are working on our frontlines.”
