One-in-four patients still in ICU 24 hours after decision made to discharge them Intensive care units without a free bed to admit urgent cases, and delays in the discharge of patients, are among the issues uncovered in the latest review of ICU activity in Ireland. The Irish National ICU Audit Annual Report found that, in 2022, more than 10,000 patients were cared for in 26 units across 22 hospitals. The average number of ICU beds open daily in publicly-funded hospitals was 289, corresponding to 5.
6 critical care beds per 100,000 population. While there was a 28 per cent increase in critical care beds since March 2020, the overall figure is low compared to international standards, with the UK having 7.3 and the OECD average being around 12 beds per 100,000 population.
The report found dangerously high levels of bed occupancy. On average, 92 per cent of ICU beds were fully occupied, while some larger units had occupancy rates above 95 per cent. This often led to periods when ICU beds were fully occupied.
The effect of full ICUs was seen in delays in urgent admissions. Just 30 per cent of patients were admitted to ICUs within one hour of the decision to admit, well below the target of 50 per cent. Around 85 per cent of admissions occurred within four hours of doctors signing off on the move.
Nationally, almost one-in-ten patients admitted from a ward developed multi-organ failure within 24 hours of ICU admission. The report notes that this indicates delays in ICU admissions, lik.
