A total of 98 patients are on trolleys or chairs in Cork University Hospital, which is a new record for overcrowding in CUH.
641 patients are without a bed in Irish hospitals as of Tuesday, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO).
INMO assistant director of industrial relations for the southern region, Colm Porter, said: “The number of patients being treated on trolleys, chairs and other inappropriate bed spaces in Cork University Hospital is gravely concerning.
“Despite their best efforts to ensure safe care, our members are facing overwhelming patient numbers in the Emergency Department, further compounded by a staffing shortage worsened by the HSE’s ongoing recruitment freeze.
"This situation is putting immense pressure on timely healthcare delivery."
Porter said HSE South West must outline what steps it is taking on Tuesday to reduce the "severe congestion" in the Emergency Department and how it plans to increase capacity in the community.
“With over 14 patients on trolleys in Mercy University Hospital, clearly there is no release valve left with patients on trolleys in the ED and across wards in both major hospitals in the city – we need immediate de-escalation, a focus on discharge and curtailment of admissions," he said.
