Letterkenny University Hospital saw “record overcrowding” in October 2021, with almost 1,000 people on trolleys during the month.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) reports that trolley numbers doubled nationally last month, compared to October 2020.
Letterkenny University Hospital was the second-worst affected in October, with 943 patients forced to wait on trolleys for admission at the Emergency Department.
The rapid rise in trolley numbers is of grave concern to the INMO.
INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said: “This month’s trolley figures are an indication of what lies ahead for patients and staff in our health service if action is not taken. These figures come in the backdrop of rapidly increasing Covid cases, increased hospitalisations and an increased number of nurses and midwives becoming infected with Covid-19.”
Ms Ní Sheaghdha has called on the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) to approve booster vaccines for healthcare workers at their meeting tomorrow.
