Tag Archives: hospital overcrowding

CLARE’S Dáil and Seanad members have been urged to back the re-opening of the region’s smaller Emergency Departments, even if it means going against the wishes of their parties. Normal business of this week’s meeting of Clare County Council was deferred for a time to discuss an emergency motion on the ED crisis. On behalf of Fine Gael, Councillor Joe Cooney proposed the urgent motion in light of the “ongoing crisis” at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). He called on on the HSE and the Minister for Health “to immediately open Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s as full Accident and Emergency Departments on a full-time basis, 24 hours, seven days a week”. “We call on all Oireachtas members in the Midwest region to support and work for same,” he said.  Councillor Mary Howard, a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, urged Oireachtas members to implement the motion, even if it meant losing the party whip.  “Today there are 489 …

A SENIOR medical consultant has broken ranks by describing the removal of 24-hour casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals in April 2009 as a “very significant mistake”. His comment comes as University Hospital Limerick (UHL) struggles to cope with surging Emergency Department admissions after its declaration of a major internal hospital incident. The controversial removal of round the clock casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh, which has been consistently criticised by the Mid-West Hospital Campaign has been thrust back into the political agenda following the intervention of a senior medic. Professor Declan Lyons told RTÉ Radio One on Monday morning that some problems affecting healthcare in Limerick are separate to winter surges. “Unfortunately, we’re in the unenviable position where we’re almost characterised as a national basket case at this stage,” he said. He outlined that overcrowding issues date back to 2009 when the medical reconfiguration of hospitals saw a “very significant mistake made at that time when direct access …

UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick has set an unwanted new record today with 126 patients being treated on trolleys at the Dooradoyle hospital. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for an emergency plan to be activated for UHL in the wake of the figures the highest number of patient overcrowding in any Irish hospital since the INMO began its TrolleyWatch in 2006. A spokesperson for the INMO said the level of overcrowding “is dangerous for patients and staff and requires an immediate hospital group-wide response”. The number of patients on trolleys in UHL this Thursday makes up over 28% of the total number of patients on trolleys across the country today (442 patients). INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations, Mary Fogarty said, “The fact that we are seeing a record number of patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick on the 21st of April means that the bed management system is completely broken. “The INMO has been sounding the alarm …

CLARE patients are facing inordinate waiting times for public hospital treatment as 97 patients are without a bed in University Hospital Limerick on Tuesday, the highest number recorded in any Irish hospital since records began. The INMO has once again called on the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to investigate the overcrowding issue at the hospital. Mary Fogarty, INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations said the current trolley numbers in University Hospital Limerick are extremely concerning. “Time and time again, University Hospital Limerick is the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland. “Despite major investment in capacity at the hospital, it is making no dent in the consistent overcrowding problem in the hospital. Overcrowding adds stress for staff and worsens patient care. It is high-risk in normal times, but even more so during a pandemic.” “The INMO is once again calling on HIQA to urgently investigate the overcrowding issue in the hospital and make recommendations. “The patients and nurses at University …

PRESSURE is growing on the UL Hospitals’ Group to address chronic overcrowding at University of Limerick (UHL) amid calls for an external review to establish why the addition of almost 100 beds hasn’t had the desired impact. The number of patients on trolleys in UHL has reached 81 in recent weeks; there were 52 patients waiting for a bed on Friday and 44 on Wednesday. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) confirmed it is closely monitoring information related to large numbers of patients in UHL’s emergency department. HIQA said it is awaiting a response on the issue from the group. The Clare Champion has learned the HSE has told the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation it is viewing the overcrowding as a serious issue and has sought a response from the group. The union has requested HIQA to conduct an external inquiry to establish why overcrowding is so high in UHL and to make …

SERVICES need to be expanded in Ennis Hospital to reduce the possibility of a “car crash” scenario of massive overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) next winter. That was the warning issued by Deputy Michael McNamara, who has asked Health Minister Simon Harris what measures is he putting in place to ensure acute patients who need to go to UHL attend the ED and those who can be treated in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals are accommodated there. Deputy McNamara called for an expansion of services in Ennis Hospital to prevent chronic overcrowding in UHL next winter. “A huge escalation in the capability of Ennis to deal with the local injuries unit and the medical assessment unit as well as outpatient facilities is needed so that we do not have the overcrowding that looks almost inevitable now. It is like looking at a car crash from six months away. “University Hospital Limerick has been consistently the most overcrowded hospital in the …

The Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick is to recruit 23 nurses to help manage the load in emergency department, local TD, Kieran O’Donnell, has confirmed. “I am pleased that the hospital is recruiting for nurses to address the overcrowding issue. This is absolutely vital. This is being done in tandem with a campaign to recruit another 25 nurses for roles elsewhere in the hospital,” the Limerick deputy said. “Last September, I met with Minister Leo Varadkar with the purpose of getting a new short-stay unit open in order to deal with the overflow from A&E. That short-stay unit was opened, and I understand the unit and its staff complement will be used to alleviate pressure in the interim period, while we wait for the new A&E to be completed. “It has been a matter of great concern to me that we have to face two to three winters before the new facility will be open. Increased pressure during winter has been a …