More than 100,000 patients have spent time on trolleys so far this year, says INMO

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reported that over 100,000 patients have been treated in hospitals without beds in 2024, with overcrowded hospitals including University Hospital Limerick and Cork University Hospital. Secretary general Phil Ní Sheaghdha expressed concern over the chronic issues in the health service exacerbated by recruitment caps and highlighted the impact on staff workload and patient care. The INMO called for an end to recruitment obstacles in the HSE’s 2024 Pay and Numbers Strategy, stating that the suppression of vacant posts has led to the elimination of 2,000 nursing and midwifery positions, affecting care standards and overcrowding.

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