Government ‘delusional’ about University Hospital Limerick, Sinn Féin says

Cillian Sherlock, PA

The Government is “frankly delusional” in its response to overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), Sinn Féin has said.

Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney said tackling resourcing at the hospital is a “priority” for the Government.

He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald during Leaders’ Questions after she said UHL's emergency department (ED) is “dangerously overcrowded”.

Ms McDonald said the hospital was suffering from “serious and persistent” capacity and staffing issues.

She added: “Doctors and nurses are forced to treat patients in appalling conditions.”

Mr Coveney replied: “This is a priority and focus for Government right now.

“What’s needed here is increased capacity, more resources and a focus on better management. All of that’s happening.”

Mr Coveney said the Government has “invested significantly” in the hospital.

He said: “Staffing of the hospital has grown by over 1,000 since the end of December 2019 – from 2,814 to now 3,854 at the end of November last year.

“That represents an increased 37 per cent in staffing in that period.”

He said the budget of the hospital has increased by 45 per cent over the same period to €383 million.

“We’re also investing in bed capacity, which is badly needed, 150 additional beds have been opened in the UL hospital group since 2020.”

He said 96 beds would be opened early in 2025 and a further 96 beds would be progressed towards the end of next year.

Ms McDonald said “lives had been lost” due to a lack of resources, capacity pressures and overcrowding.

She said: “In the face of that loss of lives, lack of capacity, dire overcrowding, cancellation of surgery, the Government continues to sing the song and parrot the rhetoric that all is well.

“The resources are insufficient, the staff capacity is insufficient, the bed capacity is insufficient. When will Government address that fact?”

Mr Coveney said she was trying to misrepresent the Government’s response and acknowledged “all is not well”.

He replied: “We are putting in place significant resources to respond to that pressure but, of course, I acknowledge – as does the Government – the difficulties that staff face and patients face today.”

Labour leader Ivana Bacik told the Minister about the case of one patient who waited two days on a trolley in the hospital’s ED before receiving treatment for a fracture.

She said the crisis at the hospital has worsened over time.

Ms Bacik added: “It’s plain for everyone to see there’s just not enough staff in our hospitals and so healthcare workers and patients continue to be placed in harm’s way.”

Mr Coveney said there are many hospitals in the country that are performing “really well” due to resources, staffing and good management.

He said there had been unprecedented investment in the health service workforce in recent years.

“If you look at the health system as a whole, actually waiting lists are down, trolley numbers are down, staffing numbers are up, bed numbers are up.”

Ms Bacik characterised the response as “nothing to see here”.