More than 3,000 patients have died following incidents in Irish health service since 2018

More than 3,000 patients have died following incidents in the Irish health service since 2018, new data shows.

New HSE data shows more than 480,000 incidents potentially causing harm were recorded across hospitals and community healthcare groups since 2018. These include falls, attacks on patients or staff, problems with medication, treating the wrong limb, or reactions to medical devices, among other issues.

Last year’s total of 106,967 was the highest of five years recorded, up from 94,422 in 2018.

While around half the incidents annually led to no injury, last year 0.65% or 556 led to a death. That stood at 0.59% or 557 deaths in 2018.

A spokesperson for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the figures are very high, but not surprising.

“Hospitals are not supposed to be dangerous places," she said.

"No matter how highly skilled your staff are, patient safety issues and the risk of missed care incidents are inevitable in a situation where patients are lining corridors on trolleys and there aren’t enough staff to care for them."

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Source: Irish Examiner, 18 August 2023