Hospital trolley figures reach record high for February

The highest ever rate of hospital overcrowding for the month of February has been recorded this year with 9,600 patients on trolleys.

The figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show a 33% increase from February last year, and a 75% increase when compared to February 2013.

A total of 9,657 patients were waiting on trolleys across the country last month after being admitted into hospitals, with Beaumont Hospital recording the highest number of 769 over the course of the month.

These latest figures come as health service chiefs and Government officials work on a multimillion euro plan aimed at tackling overcrowding through the provision of additional hospital beds and the reform of funding for the Fair Deal nursing home scheme.

Speaking on Thursday INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said "these figures truly confirm the scale of the crisis from overcrowding...The ED Taskforce, meeting today, must now agree the range of actions necessary to alleviate this crisis.

“These measures must include additional bed capacity as well as the restoration of community nursing services.”

Tadhg Daly, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland said “the Fair Deal scheme must become demand-led and we are encouraged by report the Government is giving this serious consideration.

“[Improvement of the system] requires the appropriate resourcing of the Fair Deal scheme long-term on a basis that recognises the increasing numbers in our older old population,who are the most dependent upon the continuous care provided by nursing homes.”