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A protest in Waterford in 2016 seeking a second cath lab for University Hospital Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne

‘You’re on your own down here after 5pm’

The cath lab was closed when John Doherty went to UHW with chest pain on a Saturday

University Hospital Limerick again had the highest number of patients on trolleys on Wednesday, with 63 waiting for beds, followed by 46 patients in University Hospital Galway, and 43 in Cork University Hospital

Sections of hospitals ‘shut down’ due to overcrowding

Hospitals remain under intense strain as emergency department crisis continues

The study found those smoking roll-your-own cigarettes had increased significantly from 35 per cent to over half of smokers. File photograph: Getty

Future health campaigns to target ‘social smokers’

Major study in England shows fewer smokers trying to quit and more using rolling tobacco

Five low-risk lifestyle factors were then measured in each – never smoking, healthy weight, at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity, moderate alcohol intake, and a good diet. Photograph: iStock

Healthy lifestyles can add up to 10 extra years of life, study says

Research quantifies how many extra years one can expect in return for good health

The policy will set out the guidelines for members of staff and managers on providing the right support to manage menopausal symptoms at work. Photograph: iStock

Derry and Strabane becomes first council to adopt menopause policy in NI

Policy hopes staff can ‘openly and comfortably’ discuss menopause and seek support

Emergency department doctors argue that treating patients on corridors in overcrowded conditions is dangerous and leads to ‘needless’ deaths. File photograph: The Irish Times

Trolley crisis Q&A: The facts behind a festering problem

Everyone accepts that more beds are needed, but agreement on a short-term fix is elusive

Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland director Pat Cullen (centre) joins the picket line outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast as nurses across Northern Ireland take part in a 12-hour strike over pay in December. File photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Thousands of nurses in Northern Ireland strike over pay

Unions call for pay parity with colleagues in rest of UK as appointments and treatments cancelled

Non-training scheme doctors (NTSDs) are the workhorses of the health system, doing much of the basic work and unsocial shifts. Photograph: iStock

Over-reliance on junior doctors one of the factors behind trolley crisis

Medical training and staffing is in a mess, with serious implications for patient safety

The ad hoc way in which doctors are employed is not sustainable, and patient care is likely to be compromised if current trends continue, a major report warns

Hospitals’ reliance on junior doctors a threat to patient safety – report

Inexperienced doctors recruited to work as experienced staff move abroad for jobs

Six specimens of the deadly poisonous Amanita virosa mushroom.

Man needed liver transplant after eating wild mushroom

Doctor warns growing interest in collecting wild mushrooms may not be matched by awareness of risk of poisoning

In an email on December 20th last, Dr Brendan McCann wrote ‘At UHW, this is about two a week or more than 100 a year. I would also point out that our waits are longer than six hours so the figure is likely to be higher.’ Photograph: Google Maps

One hundred patients a year die due to overcrowding, says hospital chief

Head of Waterford’s emergency department made claim in series of private emails

Michelle Kingston: ‘We’re just being bombarded. We don’t have the capacity.’

Emergency departments like ‘war zone’ due to overcrowding

Cork nurse: ‘It takes a lot to make me cry at work but at the weekend I came home crying’

Lesley Williams: ‘He was on a drip, so he was quite stoic about that but at the same time a little afraid.’

Trolley crisis: ‘He was sitting on a chair for 10 hours’

Pensioner suffering from liver ailment in emergency department for almost two days

Health experts have predicted the trolley crisis will continue to get worse each year.

Hospital beds crisis: ‘It's like trying to put out a fire with a tea cup’

Consultants say HSE plans will fail to provide enough beds to ease overcrowding

Rachel Hillyard initially presented at the University Hospital Limerick on Saturday but decided to go home after she was informed there was a nine-hour wait. Photograph: David Raleigh

‘To turn around to vomit, you were sure you would hit someone with it’

Crohn’s disease sufferer Rachel Hillyard recounts her experience of delays at UHL

The 760 patients waiting for a bed on Monday significantly surpasses the previous high during the ‘Beast from the East’ storm in March 2018, when 714 patients were waiting.

Flu and bed shortage responsible for record trolley numbers, says Taoiseach

INMO wants elective surgery cancellations as 760 patients wait for admission to hospital

Recent reports have shown Ireland is making big strides in healthcare, but access remains the bugbear of the system.

Overcrowding: Seven reasons for record trolley numbers

A shortage of beds, understaffing and lack of urgency at the top is contributing to the crisis

The new record for patients on trolleys comes after a severe winter flu season.

Have your say: Share your story of hospital overcrowding?

With record numbers of patients waiting on beds, we want to hear your experiences

The Government has tasked its special rapporteur on child protection to examine calls for improved parental rights for LGBT families using surrogacy. File photograph: Katie Collins/PA Wire

Calls for improved rights for LGBT families using surrogacy to be examined

Government tasks special rapporteur on child protection with reviewing the issue

About 7,000 Irish people suffer a stroke every year, and an estimated 30,000 people are living with post-stroke disability

At least 120 beds needed for stroke patients over next five years

Report warns majority of stroke units are undersized and understaffed

Gerry Stevens: ‘I couldn’t talk or drive and had lost all power on my left hand.’ Photograph: Seamus Farrelly

A sudden stroke: ‘I tried to get out of the chair but just fell over’

Q102 DJ Gerry Stevens suffered a brain haemorrhage while watching TV in 2017

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