This year has seen the worst-ever November on record for hospital overcrowding. This year has seen the worst-ever November on record for hospital overcrowding. Earlier this week, the count for 2018 crossed 100,000 for the first time ever, already making 2018 the worst-ever year for overcrowding. A total of five hospitals saw over 500 patients on trolleys in November:Cork University Hospital: 932University Hospital Galway: 676Letterkenny University Hospital: 581Tallaght University Hospital: 559Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore: 549The union claims that much of the overcrowding is down to understaffing, caused primarily by low pay levels in Irish nursing and midwifery. They include Tallaght Hospital, the Mater and St Vincent's hospitals in Dublin and the University Hospitals in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.

Source: Irish Independent December 02, 2018 09:09 UTC