University Hospital Waterford has had no patient on trolleys since August.
That's according to the INMO's daily trolley watch.
The nursing union recorded a single patient on a trolley in the emergency department at UHW during August, there were five patients on trolleys during June, seven in May and three in April.
There were no patients on trolleys at UHW in September, October or November. That's in stark contrast to 2019 when there were 707 patients on trolleys during September, 581 in October 2019 and 588 in November 2019.
National numbers
New figures released by the INMO today show that trolley figures across the country have reached their highest point since the start of the pandemic.
316 people were waiting without hospital beds across the country this morning.
The union has warned that overcrowding poses a COVID cross-infection risk for patients and staff alike.
The hospitals with the highest number of patients on trolleys today are:
- University Hospital Limerick – 59
- Cork University Hospital – 38
- Mayo University Hospital - 36
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
"This is an incredibly dangerous time to slip into old bad habits. Overcrowded wards are a breeding ground for contagious viruses.
"The number of people on trolleys has been far lower this year. If we take our eye off the ball now, infection rates in our hospitals will skyrocket.
"Over 12,000 healthcare workers have caught Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Many of those staff are still living with symptoms, meaning that staffing is under even greater pressure.
"Decisive action on overcrowding is needed urgently to avoid putting patients and staff at serious risk."
