Trolley crisis: St Luke’s one of country’s most overcrowded hospitals today
By COLIN BARTLEY
THE overcrowding crisis at St Luke’s General Hospital escalated further week, with no fewer than 117 patients left languishing on trolleys while they wait for a bed to become available.
Today at St Luke’s 33 people are waiting on trolleys, up from 23 yesterday, 25 on Tuesday, while Monday saw a recent high of 36.
Only University Hospital Limerick, Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway have had more people languishing on trolleys throughout the week.
University Hospital Limerick today recorded a staggering 76 patients waiting on trolleys in the hospital and 258 since the start of the week.
On Monday the total number of patients waiting for beds nationally was 484 and the number rose to 503 on Tuesday. It went up to 515 yesterday, before dropping significantly to 415 nationally today.
In contrast, the figures for St Luke’s General Hospital soared by almost 50%.
