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Undercover footage in recent days shows the overcrowding situation at Limerick University Hospital, which was one of the worst impacted

Overcrowding crisis: Why is the problem not yet fixed?

After successive years of overcrowding, significant extra funding, copious analyses and action plans, Health Correspondent Fergal Bowers writes that the fundamental question remains - why has the problem not been fixed?

Analysis and Comment • 07 Jan 23

University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected by overcrowding

640 patients waiting admission to hospital bed - INMO

There were 640 patients waiting for admission to a hospital bed, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Health • 04 Feb 20

Mater Hospital in Dublin was among the worst affected today

Improvements, but 'a lot more to do' - HSE chief

Strategic investment is needed to address the pressure on capacity in Ireland's hospitals, according to the CEO of the Health Service Executive.

Ireland • 08 Jan 20

74 patients at UHL are waiting for a hospital bed

614 patients waiting for hospital bed - INMO

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said 614 patients are waiting for admission to a hospital bed.

Health • 16 Dec 19

University Hospital Limerick is worst affected with 70 patients waiting for a bed

Overcrowding remains high with over 600 waiting for bed

The level of hospital overcrowding has reduced further but remains high, with 604 patients waiting for admission to a hospital bed, according to today's figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Health • 07 Nov 19

Doctors have written an open letter on the challenges at the hospital

UHL doctors highlight challenges in open letter

Doctors based at University Hospital Limerick have written an open letter outlining the serious challenges faced by the hospital in providing enough in-patient beds for acutely ill patients.

Health • 18 Apr 19

Families in Dublin city units finding cramped conditions extremely challenging

Concern at overcrowding level in Dublin social housing

Concern has been raised about the level of overcrowding in social housing units in Dublin city while hundreds of others remain underused.

Dublin • 25 Jan 19

Leo Varadkar said that hospitals effectively closed down over the Christmas period

Govt says less extended leave will tackle overcrowding

Hospital consultants, nurses and other medical professionals should not be on extended holidays over Christmas and the first two weeks of January to ensure that every hospital bed is open, the Taoiseach has told the Dáil.

Health • 06 Nov 18

Ten people waiting more than 40 hours for admission to UHG

Elderly woman on trolley at UHG for 70 hours

An 80-year-old woman has been on a trolley for more than 70 hours in the emergency department at University Hospital Galway.

Health • 11 Jan 18

There are currently around 12,000 acute hospital beds in the health service

Review recommends up to 2,500 extra hospital beds

The Bed Capacity Review Report is to be brought to Government within weeks, it has been confirmed.

Bed Capacity Review • 07 Jan 18

This week saw a record level of overcrowding in Irish hospitals

Rise in flu cases to add pressure on hospitals and GPs

Pressure on hospitals and GP services is expected to increase next week as incidents of flu are on the rise and expected to peak after the Christmas break.

Health • 06 Jan 18

The INMO has called for an urgent meeting of the Emergency Department Task Force

Harris to discuss overcrowding with hospital chiefs

Minister for Health Simon Harris is to discuss the overcrowding crisis by phone conference call with each of the Hospital Group chief executives tomorrow.

News • 03 Jan 18

There were 1,800 fewer patients on trolleys last month, compared to November last year.

Minister pleased with progress on ED overcrowding

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris said he was pleased with the progress that has been achieved so far this winter in reducing the number of people on trolleys in hospitals.

Health • 07 Dec 17

SIPTU says around 15 emergency departments have had delays with ambulance transfers

Overcrowding causing ambulance delays - SIPTU

Trade union SIPTU has said that ambulances are facing significant delays at some emergency departments due to overcrowding.

News • 04 Jan 17

There were 352 people waiting to be admitted to hospital beds this morning, according to the INMO

Call for decision makers to manage overcrowding

The Minister for Health has said there needs to be senior clinical decision makers in all hospitals over the Christmas period to manage overcrowding.

News • 05 Dec 16

The Saolta Hospital Group has advised people not to attend the emergency department unless absolutely necessary

UHG defers some surgeries due to overcrowding

Elective surgery at University Hospital Galway has been deferred, as overcrowding in the emergency department again impacts on the running of the hospital.

News • 27 Apr 16

Overcrowding levels have broken the 500 barrier around nine times this year

544 patients waiting on trolleys nationwide - INMO

There are 544 patients on trolleys in hospital emergency departments, or on wards waiting for admission to a bed, according to figures compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Organisation.

News • 01 Mar 16

Inpatient and day case waiting lists both show a slight increase

Increase in hospital waiting lists

There has been a small increase in hospital waiting lists, according to the latest figures for January, from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

News • 11 Feb 16

INMO General Secretary Liam Doran said the union will now proceed with further industrial action on 14 and 26 January

INMO nurses to proceed with industrial action

Hospital emergency departments face industrial action this month after nurses belonging to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation rejected settlement proposals aimed at addressing overcrowding and staff shortages.

News • 05 Jan 16

SIPTU wants 800 health care assistants introduced to alleviate overcrowding at hospitals

SIPTU calls for more health care assistants

SIPTU has called for more health care assistants to be recruited in order to alleviate the overcrowding crisis in hospitals.

News • 25 Nov 15

The taskforce discussed the opening of around 455 new and closed beds

Extra beds due this week to tackle overcrowding

Health Service Executive Director General Tony O'Brien has said that the overcrowding issues in hospital emergency departments are local and variable and not a single national problem.

News • 02 Nov 15

The INMO are meeting today to discuss the high numbers of people waiting on trolleys

INMO may take industrial action over overcrowding

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has said industrial action is a very strong possibility due to persistent overcrowding at three hospitals in Dublin, Limerick and Louth.

News • 08 Sep 15

INMO says one man has waited on a trolley for five days

Elderly man on hospital trolley for five days

The Irish Nurses & Midwives' Organisation has said the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda is severely overcrowded, with 40 patients on trolleys waiting to be admitted to a bed.

News • 07 Sep 15

The IMO says there were 7,775 people being treated on trolleys last month

Hospital overcrowding at record high for June

Overcrowding in hospital emergency departments and wards has increased by 51%, when compared with the same month last year.

News • 06 Jul 15

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda is among those worst-affected

More overcrowding in emergency departments

Overcrowding in hospital emergency departments is worsening, with figures today showing 467 patients waiting for admission to a bed.

News • 04 Jun 15