UNION CALLS FOR MEASURES TO IMPROVE GALWAY HOSPITAL OVERCROWDING

Date Published: 18-Jan-2012

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation wants a more focused approach by the 'Special Delivery Unit' to improve overcrowding at Galway public hospitals.

According to an annual analysis by the INMO, there has been an increase of almost 60 percent in trolley figures at University Hospital Galway since 2010.

There were just over 4 thousand people recorded on trolleys at UHG in 2010 compared to 6 and a half thousand last year.

Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe also experienced a rise in trolley figures jumping from 840 in 2010 to 941 in 2011.

Meanwhile, there are a total of 121 beds closed at Galway's public hospitals - 91 at Merlin Park, 17 at UHG and 13 at Portiuncula in Ballinasloe.

General Secretary of the INMO, Liam Doran says things are only getting worse in Galway