Midlands Patients Waited 9 Hours In EDs During First Half of 2026

9,474 of these patients were aged 75 years or over.   

Nearly 23,000 patients spent more than 24 hours in emergency departments during the first half of 2026.   

Figures provided by the HSE to Longford-Westmeath TD Sorca Clarke, shows patients experiencing emergency department stays exceeding 24 hours, with close to 59,000 patients leaving prior to being assessed by a clinician.   

Figures also indicated that 9,474 of these patients were aged 75 years or over.   

Midlands patients faced an average wait time of 9 hours in Portlaoise, Mullingar, and Tullamore.   

Deputy Clarke says the Government must fully finance and fast-track the hospital bed expansion plan and has described the comprehensive hospital bed expansion plan published in 2024 as "failure".    
 

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