The number of sick people forced to wait on trolleys for admission to Letterkenny University Hospital has multiplied by over 400% since this time last year.
Some 2813 people had to wait on trollies and in overflow wards at LUH between January-July 2017, which is an increase from 707 in the same period last year.
This is the highest Trolley Waiting List figure at LUH since INMO records began in 2006.
INMO Trolley/Ward Watch Figures 2017. Source: INMO.ie
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) confirm a record number of patients nationally (57,674) were admitted for care on trolleys in the first seven months of 2017.
Despite a 6% reduction across all Emergency Departments in Ireland, Letterkenny continues to endure an overcrowding crisis. INMO officials say record levels of patients on trollies in the first seven months of the year are particularly worrying ahead of the winter months.
INMO say these figures continue to be a source of great concern as, despite many initiatives, the number of patients, admitted and requiring inpatient care, left on trolleys, in Emergency Departments or on trolleys on wards, continues to increase.
The 2017 figures and record numbers of people waiting for an outpatient appointment/procedures show a lack of capacity, leading to lack of access, within the public health system, according to the INMO.
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