According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, currently 84 patients are on trolleys in CUH.
The current overcrowding situation is being described as dangerous for both staff and patients.
All 84 of the trolleys are located in the hospital's Emergency Department.
Due to overcrowding, the Emergency Department at the hospital have asked the public to contact their GP or South Doc, before presenting themselves to the hospital, unless their needs are urgent.
Speaking about the record high number, INMO Industrial Relations Officer, Liam Conway said:
“Today’s figures in CUH are of no surprise to those working in the hospital. The discharge rates simply are not keeping up with the admission rates and that is one of the reasons why we are seeing such high numbers on trolleys in CUH.
“This is a very dangerous situation in CUH, and staff can’t wait any longer for the South/Southwest Hospital Group to intervene. It is not acceptable to us that the hospital group continue to blame the problems in CUH on the national picture. The INMO has been calling for the HSE and the hospital group to create a bespoke plan for CUH.
“Year in and year out, we see the same problems in CUH at wintertime. Staff feel abandoned because they feel that neither the hospital group nor the HSE are listening to their concerns.
“We need to see all non-emergency activity in the hospital curtailed and all private capacity in the region utilised where possible.
“Unless the South/Southwest Hospital Group takes urgent action, we are going to see many more record-breaking days like this in Cork University Hospital.”
