Nurses in Ireland sound alarm over growing hospital overcrowding

Mohan Sinha
03 Jul 2025, 18:17 GMT+10

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has warned that there could be a serious trolley crisis this summer unless urgent action is taken
This week, 524 patients were treated on trolleys, chairs, or in other unsuitable spaces. In June alone, 7,989 patients were treated this way
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said it is very worrying to see such a high number of patients without proper beds on July 1

DUBLIN, Ireland: The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned that there could be a serious trolley crisis this summer unless urgent action is taken.

This week, 524 patients were treated on trolleys, chairs, or in other unsuitable spaces. In June alone, 7,989 patients were treated this way.

INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said it is very worrying to see such a high number of patients without proper beds on July 1. She said that unless more work is done to build up care in the community—like more public health nurses, community nurses, and home help services—the problem will only get worse through the summer and into the autumn.

She added that nurses and their union should not have to keep warning about overcrowding, especially in summer when winter viruses are not spreading as usual.

Ní Sheaghdha also criticised the Health Service Executive's (HSE) Pay and Numbers Strategy, saying it makes it harder to grow community services and blocks better care options outside hospitals. She called on the HSE to explain what it is doing to reduce overcrowding in every hospital.

Some of the worst-affected hospitals on July 1 included:

University Hospital Limerick: There are 133 patients on trolleys, 60 in the emergency department, and 73 in other hospital wards.
University Hospital Galway: 69 patients on trolleys.
Cork University Hospital: 30 patients waiting for beds.
St Vincent's University Hospital: 28 patients on trolleys.
Tallaght University Hospital: 27 patients on trolleys.

The INMO is calling for immediate action to reduce hospital overcrowding and improve patient care.

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