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OVERCROWDING IN IRISH hospitals increased in the first three months of the year, but decreased in April.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has released the figures ahead of its annual conference, which begins in Wexford today.
Some 36,043 patients waited on trolleys for an inpatient bed in the first four months of 2017. This was the highest figure recorded for this four-month period since records began, and a 1% increase on 2016 figures.
Some 7,199 patients spent time on trolleys while awaiting inpatient beds last month. This figure represents a 12% decrease compared with April 2016.
The INMO noted this year’s figures to date continue to show a significant drop in overcrowding in hospitals in Dublin, while hospitals outside the capital continue to see significant increases in levels of overcrowding.
The most overcrowded hospitals in April were:
Ongoing overcrowding problems in hospitals nationwide will be one of the issues discussed at the INMO’s three-day conference.
More staff and beds needed
Speaking about the issue, INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said: “These latest statistics confirm that our health services continue to be too small to adequately, and safely, meet the demands being placed upon it. The shortage of beds in acute hospitals and step down facilities remains a real problem in this on-going crisis.
Additional services, either in terms of acute beds, step-down beds and/or community intervention teams are dependent on there being additional nursing staff. It remains the stark reality that without nurses and midwives we cannot meet current demand let alone in the future.
A meeting of the Emergency Department Taskforce is due to take place on Monday, 8 May.
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A excellent piece: nicely done, Gavin.
Diogo Jota was an intelligent, humble and hard-working young man. The news today was shocking and hard to take in. May he and Andre rest in peace.
YNWA
R.I.P Dioga & Andre
A beautifully worded eulogy—- ‘ try not to make sense of this tragedy— there simply is NO SENSE In today’s tragedy’
Retire the number 20
@Dan The Man: I’ll ” second” that !!!
So terribly sad. May they RIP.
A father of three. Heartbreaking.
Great article, and a sobering reminder of the precariousness and fragility of life. It’s heartbreaking for everyone concerned, for Diogo’s family, his wife and the 3 kids who must now grow up without their Dad, but also the one he grew up in who’s parents have lost both their sons at once. Life can be unbelievably cruel at times. Hopefully they can all look back on their good memories and find some solace in them in time. RIP Diogo and Andre.
RIP YNWA
Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his younger brother Andre are understood to have been driving in an acid green £180,000 Lamborghini Huracan when they crashed
@Dominic Leleu: And?
@Dominic Leleu: So what? Is this relevant?
@Dominic Leleu: What value does this comment add, the value of the car they were in doesn’t lessen the fact that three children are without a father and an uncle and his newly married wife is now a widow and his parents have lost all their children in one senseless accident. Have a look in the mirror and have a long think.
@Joe Beirne: I doubt the accident happened at low speed. and no it does not. still …
@Dominic Leleu: What’s your point?
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