2019 Worst Year On Record For Hospital Overcrowding

Pressure is increasing on the Minister for Health Simon Harris and the HSE to solve the trolley crisis in hospitals.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says more than 118,000 patients were left waiting for a bed after being admitted last year.

hat is 9% higher than for 2018, with 1,300 children under the age of 16 on trolleys after being admitted to hospital.

University Hospital Limerick was the worst affected, with nearly 14,000 patients waiting for a bed.


September, October and November had the highest levels of overcrowding, which nurses are blaming on under-staffing and a lack of capacity.

There's a major difference of opinion on the issue of a recruitment ban.

The INMO says rigid recruitment controls are starving the health service of the staff needed, but The Department of Health claims no recruitment embargo exists.