October worst on record for overcrowding, says INMO

Updated / Sunday, 1 Nov 2026 11:46

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October was the worst on record for hospital overcrowding, with 12,672 patients treated in corridors, on chairs or trolleys, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

In a statement, the INMO said overcrowding is consistently worse than previous years, and that so far this year 111,000 patients have been treated on trolleys in acute hospitals around the country.

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that patients who are being treated on trolleys or chairs "can expect a worse health outcome than those who are lucky enough to be treated on a bed."

She added: "This is a complete crisis, with higher numbers of patients than ever being completely let down by the health service. But rather than take steps to improve this situation, the Government and the HSE are implementing measures that are guaranteed to make it worse."

Ms Ní Sheaghdha called for a reversal of the recruitment freeze implemented by the Department of Health.

She said a continued lack of targeted investment in the health service "is going to lead to the services and staff being run into the ground."

Among the hospitals worst affected were University Hospital Limerick, Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Galway, according to the INMO.