The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly (FF) has announced a range of new measures aimed at alleviating overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick including opening the Acute Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis on 24 hour a day basis.
Minister Donnelly visited University Hospital Limerick (UHL) today where he met with management, including Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick, the Health Service Executive (HSE) CEO Bernard Gloster, as well as consultants and other clinical leaders.
UHL has consistently the highest number of people waiting on trollies for admittance to a hospital bed in the country.
In 2024 to date, 17% of those who waited on trollies did so at UHL, a hospital which has 6% of Emergency Department attendances, and 6% of attendances of those over 75 years.
“This continued problem is not acceptable to me as Minister, and it most certainly is not acceptable to the people of this region,” said Minister Donnelly.
“In an effort to alleviate the problem I have agreed with the HSE a number of measures which will, I hope, help.”
A procurement process has been initiated for the operation of the new 50 bed Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh as a step down sub-acute and rehabilitation facility for this hospital for one year until the first 96 bed block is opened.
The bed profile in this new block will now change from 48 new beds to 71 new beds and recruitment for the new facility will start immediately.
“I have mandated that all steps are taken to accelerate the second 96 bed block to be built here at UHL, having sanctioned enabling works for that project last year. Those works have begun,” he said.
In addition to this, a further 20 permanent step down transition and rehab beds will be procured in Clare. Some 16 additional fast build beds are to be commissioned onsite with this capacity to be available in advance of next winter’s surge.
The opening hours of the region’s three Acute Medical Assessment Units at Nenagh, Ennis and St John’s are to be extended to 24/7 on a phased basis.
Other changes include extending ‘safe staffing’ to all wards in UHL as per the national rollout and UHL is to be one of two national test sites for Acute Virtual Wards.
UHL will also provide GP and Advanced Nurse Practitioner-on-the-door services for the ED in an effort to alleviate overcrowding and allow the ED staff to treat urgent and emergency patients in a more timely manner.
“Those hospitals that are improving their performance, are doing so through a combination of increased resources – we have more beds and more staff right across our health service albeit not to the same extent as here in Limerick – and reformed work practices,” he said.
“Therefore, I have asked and expect that we will see here in UHL the following: That senior decision makers are rostered on site, both in the Emergency Department and throughout the hospital, after hours and at weekends. UHL ranks 9th in the country for weekend discharges, that must improve There will be a progression to immediate rostering over six and where contractually possible seven days.
“An All-of-Hospital approach to treating ED patients, including presence of non-ED consultants to support ED colleagues in the Emergency Department when necessary. A strong patient flow team in place 7 days per week. Weekend access to scheduled diagnostics for ED.”
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, investigative reporter and blogger who has been working in the media in Ireland for the past 20 years. His areas of special interest include the environment, mental health and politics.