The number of patients occupying hospital beds despite being fit for discharge has escalated to 630 as the HSE puts the squeeze on nursing home places and homecare supports. The number of patients occupying hospital beds despite being fit for discharge has escalated to 630 as the HSE puts the squeeze on nursing home places and homecare supports. Homecare limits add to numbers now stuck in hospitalThere were 599 "delayed discharges" in June but this has now increased to 630, according to HSE figures. The problem is countrywide as figures show 14 delayed discharges in Letterkenny Hospital, 12 in South Tipperary General Hospital and eight in University Hospital Waterford. The worst hit was University Hospital Limerick with 60 patients on trolleys.

Source: Irish Independent July 16, 2019 03:22 UTC