Sligo University Hospital was the fourth busiest hospital in the country this month. Nationally, there were over 13,000 patients treated without a bed in hospitals in January, according to INMO figures. The latest report from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation shows 995 patients were waiting on trolleys at Sligo University Hospital last month. Only University Hospital Limerick, University Hospital Galway and Cork University Hospital were busier during January. There were almost 2,000 patients without a bed in Limerick last month, over 1,300 in UHG and over 1,000 in Cork.
The INMO says that in addition to the high numbers, they have raised concerns with the HSE about the continuous use of so-called surge capacity. The union says this involves additional bed capacity for which no additional staffing is allocated. As of this morning, there 48 patients waiting on trolleys in Sligo, making it the third busiest facility in the country. University Hospital Limerick remains the busiest with 86 patients left without a bed today
