Addressing attendees at the launch, Professor Rory Dwyer, Clinical Lead for the Irish National ICU Audit, highlighted the strength and consistency of outcomes across the national network.

This report shows that ICU care in Ireland continues to deliver strong outcomes for patients, with all units performing within expected ranges for risk‑adjusted mortality. This reflects the expertise and commitment of multidisciplinary teams working across the country.”

Strong outcomes and high-quality care

The findings show that Irish ICUs continue to deliver safe, high-quality care, even as services operate under sustained pressure.

Overall, 81% of patients survived to hospital discharge, with outcomes across all Units within the expected range, demonstrating consistent performance nationally.

Reflecting on her experience of ICU care, our PPI representative Chloe Greene said:

The staff were fantastic and my family were always around me; I felt comforted in that way.”

High demand and limited capacity

ICU services remained under significant strain throughout 2024, with an average of 315 ICU/HDU beds available daily and a national occupancy rate of 94%, which is above the recommended level.

This reflects both high demand for critical care and lower capacity compared to international benchmarks, contributing to ongoing pressures across the system.

Professor Dwyer also highlighted the challenges associated with capacity and access to care. The report shows that high bed occupancy and demand for services continue to impact timely admission to ICU.

Delays in patient flow remain a challenge

The report highlights continued challenges in patient flow due to capacity constraints. Patients who were ready for discharge accounted for 9.4% of ICU bed days, which delayed access for other critically ill patients, while 3.5% of patients were discharged at night, often reflecting the need to free up beds.

While most patients were admitted within a few hours of the decision to admit, the findings show that some patients are still reaching ICU later than clinically desirable.

Complex and seriously ill patient population

ICU teams continue to manage patients with complex and life-threatening conditions, with 31% admitted with sepsis and over half developing acute kidney injury early in their ICU stay. Many patients also required advanced life-support interventions such as ventilation and cardiovascular support, highlighting the intensity and complexity of care delivered in ICUs nationwide.

Organ donation

The report also highlights findings on organ donation within ICU settings, noting a decline in key indicators in 2024. The proportion of patients diagnosed with brain death who became organ donors decreased compared to the previous year, while family consent rates also fell.

These findings point to opportunities to strengthen national organ donation processes, including improving awareness, supporting families in decision-making, and identifying potential donors earlier in the care pathway.

Looking ahead to service improvement

The report identifies key priorities to strengthen critical care services and improve patient outcomes. These include expanding ICU and HDU capacity in line with national strategy, improving early detection and referral of deteriorating patients, and enhancing discharge processes to improve patient flow.

It also highlights the importance of using ICU Audit and Irish Potential Organ Donation Audit (IPODA) data to improve organ donation services and better identify barriers to donation. In addition, the report recommends that Units aim to maintain one staffed ICU bed for urgent admissions wherever possible, to support timely access for critically ill patients.

The Irish National ICU Annual Report along with it's summary are now available for download.