Cabinet to hear of fall in hospital ED overcrowding

Overcrowding at hospitals and emergency departments remains a challenge, but most patients are not forced to wait for admission on a trolley, the Minister for Health will tell a meeting of the Cabinet this week.

Overcrowding in hospital emergency departments (ED) fell by 14% – or 7,800 fewer patients – during the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2023, according to figures Minister Stephen Donnelly will bring to the Government.

The minister will tell the Cabinet that this reduction was achieved despite a 62,000 increase – or 10% rise – in the number of patients presenting to emergency departments.

Some hospitals significantly outperformed the national average.

The biggest reduction in trolley counts was in Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar, which is down 63%.

This is followed by St Luke’s in Kilkenny which is down 55%, Mayo University Hospital with a decrease of 45%, Portiuncula University Hospital with a drop of 40% and Tipperary University Hospital which is down 37%.

The TrolleyGar data for University Hospital Waterford and Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore has remained at zero for the year-to-date.

A memo, which is being brought to the Cabinet, highlights the factors that have contributed to the improved national performance, including more staff, more beds, better rostering and better operational management at hospitals.