IHCA FutureCare Report: Action Plan for Health 2026 (ihca.ie)

• Ireland has 289 hospital beds per 100,000 population (EU avg 511) and 95.9% bed occupancy.
• Over 1 million people await hospital treatment; 114,000 were on trolleys in 2025.
• Report calls for €2bn EHR, >3bn capital for hubs, and 3,322 more consultants by 2030.

"The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) report 'FutureCare: Action Plan for Health 2026' presents a clinician-led 10-point plan to reform Ireland's health system. It highlights critical capacity deficits: 289 beds per 100,000 population (EU avg 511), 95.9% bed occupancy, and over 1 million people on waiting lists. The report calls for immediate bed expansion, a nationwide electronic health record (EHR), increased ICU capacity, and enhanced clinical governance."