Tullamore Hospital is Ireland's third most overcrowded today

Tullamore Hospital is the third most overcrowded hospital in the country today.

Trolley and ward watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation(INMO) recorded 30 people on trolleys, chairs or additional beds in the hospital this morning.

The HSE said “the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore is experiencing high levels of attendances and admissions in the Emergency Department (ED) today. As a result, the HSE Escalation Policy is currently in operation at the hospital.”

“In order to assist us we are requesting that patients in the first instance,consider using their GP or Midoc Service for medical assessment, where possible. The situation will be reviewed on an ongoing basis,” the HSE stated.

The INMO figures put the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore behind of South Tipperary General with 35 patients on the list and Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital with 32.  

Launched in 2013, the trolley and ward watch figures are a count of the number of additional patients on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient wards or units above the stated complement of that ward or unit. The figures provide a picture of whole hospital overcrowding.

Tullamore was the most overcrowded hospital in the country last Tuesday and Friday and again yesterday.