Tullamore Hospital is the most overcrowded in Ireland today

Tullamore Hospital is the most overcrowded hospital in the country for a second time this week, according to the INMO.

Trolley and ward watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) recorded 37 people on trolleys, chairs or additional beds in the hospital this morning.

The INMO figures put the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore ahead of Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital on 35 and University Hospital Galway at 32 in terms of overcrowding.  

Launched in April 2013, the trolley and ward watch figures are a count of the number of additional patients on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient wards or units above the stated complement of that ward or unit. The figures provide a picture of hospital overcrowding.

Tullamore was the most overcrowded hospital in the country last Tuesday when 34 people were recorded on the trolley and ward watch list.

The HSE has put its Escalation Policy in place at Tullamore Hospital. A HSE spokeswoman said “this will remain in place over the weekend and will be reviewed on Monday.”