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Tag Archives: UHL ED

Thousands fall silent for late Aoife at hospital march

THOUSANDS of hospital protesters bowed their heads in silence in a show of support for the family of a Shannon teenager who died in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) before Christmas. You could hear a pin drop when Melanie Sheehan requested a minute silence to mark the tragic death of Aoife Johnston during protest speeches at Arthur’s Quay car park on Saturday. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently requested a new inquiry into Aoife’s hospital treatment after she contracted meningitis to ascertain if her untimely death could have been prevented. Her death sent shock waves throughout the Mid-West. Hospital activists are hoping her untimely passing will prove a watershed moment in their campaign to tackle overcrowding in the region. UHL has promised a “comprehensive investigation” into the circumstances which led up to Aoife’s death. Young family members and friends of Aoife held up framed photographs of her as they listened to speeches calling for the restoration of 24-hour Accident and Emergency services in …

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Clare TD: UHL ‘a centre of death and disaster’ not excellence

NATIONAL HSE chiefs have defended the controversial removal of 24-hour Emergency Care from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals following claims University Hospital Limerick is a “centre of death” and a “centre of disaster” for some patients who were left lying on trolleys. The latest criticism of this downgrading came at a Joint Health Committee meeting on Tuesday just days before thousands of hospital campaigners are expected to attend a major protest march in Limerick from Merchants Quay this Saturday. Deputy Cathal Crowe paid tribute to the frontline staff that have worked very hard to keep the hospital system some way functional. “There has been a perpetual crisis in the Mid-West and in particular UHL. We have a population in the mid-west of almost 500,000. There was a time when this population had five Emergency Care Departments, patients were provided with a level of care were discharged and went home. “Sometimes old ways are better. I think it is time the HSE …

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Clare people urged to join UHL protest march this Saturday

CLARE people have been urged to attend a protest march in Limerick to highlight the impact of persistent overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on January 21. Noeleen Moran of the Mid West Hospital Campaign has requested Clare sporting organisations, community groups and individuals to attend this demonstration, which starts at Merchant’s Quay at 11am. “We need a strong Clare presence at this march to get our message across that 24-hour casualty cover needs to be returned to Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals.” She believes the recent HSE acknowledgement about the danger posed by overcrowding is a direct result of the work of campaigners such as Marie McMahon from Ennistymon among others. “For 82 patients that are left on a trolley for six to eight hours, there is at least one fatality. This increases with the number of hours patients are left waiting. There were at least 77 days when there were more than 82 patients on trolleys in UHL in …

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Transfer of patients to Ennis MAU to continue long-term – Wynne

THE transfer of patients to Ennis Hospital Medical Assessment Unit for emergency care is set to continue for the foreseeable future. The announcement comes on foot of a meeting this Wednesday between Oireachtas members in the Mid-West Region, the Taoiseach, Minister for Health, Senior HSE officials and the management of UL Hospitals Group.    Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Violet Anne Wynne said, “I have spoken with the CEO of UL Hospitals Group Prof. Colette Cowan, and she has assured me that the transferring of patients by ambulance to the MAU at Ennis Hospital for emergency care where possible will continue beyond the end of this current massive level of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. “I have sought assurances that resources will be ramped up to ensure that this new MAU pathway will not detract from the existing services provided at Ennis Hospital. I have not received those assurances; however, I have been informed that the management will meet again …

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Senior consultant admits removing Ennis A&E cover was ‘a significant mistake’

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 …

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‘Dangerous conditions’ for staff and patients in UHL ED

SIGNIFICANT reductions in elective surgery and outpatient diagnostics will continue in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) over the next month after record high Emergency Department attendances resulted in “dangerous conditions” for patient and staff safety. The UL Hospitals’ Group has admitted planned reductions in scheduled care will continue over the Christmas and New Year period as the group concentrate on inpatients as well as emergency and time-critical care after the busiest weekend ever recorded in the hospital. Responding to Clare Champion queries about the impact of the unprecedented demand on public hospital services, the group outlined work in their operating theatres will be focused on emergency and trauma patients until January 16. It also warned anyone attending the ED with a less than urgent condition is going to face an “exceptionally long wait for treatment” as UHL struggled to cope with 92 patients on trolleys on Monday, 94 on Tuesday and 88 on Wednesday. The INMO has confirmed UHL is the …

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Patients left to ‘wallow’ in pain in UHL, TD claims

PATIENTS are left to “wallow” in pain on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick for long periods after they are assessed, a local Dáil deputy has claimed. Having attended the ED recently with a family member, Deputy Cathal Crowe told a recent Dáil Health Committee meeting there isn’t enough follow up with patients who are left waiting in corridors. “Charts and extensive data can be seen by someone going to the toilet or the shop, people going into see their relatives can see patients with bedpans. There is no privacy there. There is very few people who come along with a cup of tea or a slice of toast to perk patients up.” “There is enduring pain when you are sitting on a trolley. People feel from triage to trolley, you are left to wallow.” Professor Brian Lenehan said UHL are focusing on providing privacy and dignity for patients following the HIQA report. He explained patients are triaged for care based …

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UHL chief apologises for excessive waiting times at hospital ED

UL Hospitals Group, Chief Executive Officer, Professor Colette Cowan has apologised to every patient that has experienced excessive wait times or a poor care environment in UHL. Professor Cowan made the apology during a three-hour discussion between senior officials in the UL Hospitals Group, national HSE officials and Mid-West Oireachtas representatives during a joint Health Committee meeting in Dublin on Wednesday. Responding to Deputy Maurice Quinlivan’s question about what management was doing to relieve chronic waiting times in the UHL emergency department, shr said, “We don’t feel comfortable about patients waiting for treatment in the ED, but it is a capacity issue. “We have looked at developments in our community and are developing the Enhanced Community Care Programme, which will create alternatives for elderly people, apart from the ED. “UHL is a very busy hospital. All our patients tell us the care is good, the difficulty is getting through the ED door. We need another second 96-bed block, which would …

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