Trolley numbers in Irish hospitals soar by over 20pc in 24 hours

Trolley numbers in Irish hospitals have increased dramatically over the past 24 hours, new figures show.

The number of patients on trolleys in the country's hospitals has soared to 668, reports the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association (INMO). This represents a drastic climb of over 21 per cent from yesterday's number of 552. The worst affected hospital today is Limerick's University Hospital with 47 patients waiting for hospital beds. Also badly hit is St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin, where the trolley count has reached 45. Just five patients are reported to be on trolleys in Irish children's hospitals today - four at Temple Street Hospital and one at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin. Health Minister Simon Harris recently recommended that the HSE introduce 2,500 new beds in Ireland by 2030. The recommendation came as part of Bed Capacity Review Report, which the minister was due to bring before his cabinet colleagues today. Today's national figure is just 9 patients shy of the all-time high trolley number, which was recorded earlier this month. A record 677 patients were on trolleys in hospitals across the country on Wednesday 3 January at the peak of the flu season. The HSE last week reported that at least 24 people had died from the flu this season in Ireland. It has been the fifth-worse flu season since the year 2000, when records began.