Jump in numbers waiting on trolleys in Tipp

According to figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation nearly 200 people treated on trolleys in December.
 
This is an increase of more than 100% on the same month in 2014.
 
These latest figures highlight the increased workload on the Emergency Department staff at South Tipperary General Hospital.
 
According to the INMO 194 patients were forced to wait for a bed after being admitted to the Clonmel facility last month
 
This compares with 93 for the month of December in 2014 – however it is slightly lower than the peak of 2013 when 212 patients had to wait on trolleys or chairs.
 
When the nursing union began compiling their Trolley Watch figures in 2006 just 12 patients had to wait for admission during the month of December.
 
The situation at university Hospital Limerick has improved considerably year on year with 453 patients being treated on trolleys last month – in December of 2014 the Dooradoyle hospital which caters for North Tipperary it had to cope with 607 patients.
 
Throughout 2015 South Tipp General treated 2,028 patients on trolleys while 7,228 had to wait for a bed at UHL.