No patients on trolleys in Tullamore Hospital for first half of 2024

A progress report on hospital overcrowding has revealed that Tullamore hospital was one of only two hospitals across the country to have no patients on trolleys for the first six months of this year.

The report, which will be brought to Cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday) by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, will show significant reductions in trolley numbers in the first indication of a possible easing in the overcrowding crisis at hospital around the country.

Despite the fact that 62,000 patients presented to hospital emergency departments so far this year, there were 7,8000 fewer patients on trolleys, with the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore and University Hospital, Waterford the only two hospitals recording no patients waiting on trolleys for the first six months of the year.

Trolley figures are compiled by the HSE on a daily basis, with the latest set of figures to be brought to Cabinet showing significant reductions in trolley numbers. The Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar recorded a 63% drop in their trolley mumbers while the drop in Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe was 40%.

While the news is very positive for patients attending the Emergency Department in Tullamore, the news is not all positive for the government, however, with trolley numbers at University Hospital, Limerick rising by 40% up to the end of April.

The latest trolley figures from the Irish Nurse and Midwives Organisation (INMO) which were released at the end of June, showed that over 9,437 patients, including 70 children were admitted to hospital without a bed in the month of June alone.

The top five most overcrowded hospitals included:

University Hospital Limerick – 1,666

University Hospital Galway – 1,051

Cork University Hospital – 824

Sligo University Hospital – 617

St Vincent’s University Hospital – 502