National Trolley Crisis Sees 485 Patients Waiting for Beds as Cork Hospitals Face Continued Pressure

• Nearly 500 patients are waiting for hospital beds across Ireland this morning, with Cork University Hospital among the worst affected, according to the latest INMO Trolley Watch figures.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) reports that 485 admitted patients were waiting for beds on 29 July 2025, with 321 stuck in emergency departments and 164 on wards elsewhere. The figures paint a stark picture of the ongoing capacity crisis in Irish hospitals, with Cork facilities experiencing significant pressure.

Cork University Hospital, which today issued an urgent appeal for the public to consider alternative care options due to "very high levels of activity," has 63 patients waiting for beds this morning. Of these, 52 are in the emergency department and 11 are elsewhere in the hospital, making it one of the most overcrowded facilities nationally.

The Mercy University Hospital in Cork is also affected, with nine patients waiting for beds: seven in the emergency department and two on other wards. These figures underscore the strain on Cork's hospital system, coinciding with health officials urging residents to explore GP services, pharmacies, and SouthDoc before attending emergency departments.

University Hospital Limerick tops the national list with 125 patients waiting for beds, followed by University Hospital Galway with 72. The crisis is affecting hospitals across all regions, with the Eastern hospitals reporting 79 patients waiting and country hospitals accounting for 406.

The INMO data reveals that two children under 16 were among those waiting for admission, highlighting that the overcrowding crisis extends to paediatric care. The three designated children's hospitals in Dublin reported no patients on trolleys this morning.

Other hospitals experiencing severe overcrowding include Letterkenny University Hospital with 33 patients waiting, Sligo University Hospital with 32, and St Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin with 23. Even smaller facilities are struggling, with hospitals in Mullingar, Portlaoise, and Tullamore reporting patients waiting despite their more limited capacity.

The trolley crisis has become a persistent feature of the Irish healthcare system, with admitted patients routinely left waiting on trolleys in corridors and other inappropriate areas due to bed shortages. Today's figures of 485 represent a significant challenge for hospital staff trying to maintain quality care under difficult circumstances.

The situation at Cork University Hospital is particularly concerning given today's HSE appeal. With 52 patients waiting in the emergency department alone, the hospital's request for the public to consider alternative care options appears well-founded. Health officials specifically highlighted services like GPs, SouthDoc (0818 355 999), local injury units, and the new Urgent Virtual Care telehealth service as alternatives for non-urgent cases.

The INMO regularly highlights how overcrowding impacts both patient care and staff working conditions, with nurses and midwives often struggling to provide adequate care in overcrowded emergency departments. The organisation has long called for increased bed capacity and staffing levels to address the chronic overcrowding issue.

As the trolley crisis continues, patients across Cork and Ireland face lengthy waits for admission, reinforcing the importance of using emergency services appropriately and exploring alternative care pathways where possible.