Hospital overcrowding 'highest recorded this year' - INMO

Updated / Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 11:57

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There has been a further rise in hospital overcrowding today with 824 patients waiting for admission to a bed, according to the Irish Nurses andMidwives Organisation (INMO).

Yesterday the union said there were 777 patients reported waiting for a bed.

According to the INMO, the hospitals worst affected today are University Hospital Limerick with 97 patients waiting, Cork University Hospital with 81 waiting and St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, with 65 patients waiting.

After the Bank Holiday weekend, hospital overcrowding continues to rise.

Today's overcrowing numbers are the highest recorded so far on any single day this year by the union.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) puts today's figure lower at 599 patients waiting.

The INMO said the current situation requires an immediate and decisive response from the HSE, including the cessation of all elective activity in acute hospitals, with private hospital capacity purchased to accommodate this work.

The highest level of overcrowding recorded by the INMO was 931 patients on 3 January, 2023.