Overcrowding at UHL still among worst in Ireland despite cancellation of scheduled care

Overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is still among the worst in Ireland despite the cancellation of scheduled care at the facility.

New figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that 31 patients at UHL were waiting for beds on Monday morning, second only to University Hospital Galway, where 43 patients were waiting.

Nationwide there were 321 patients waiting for beds on Monday morning, according to the INMO, including 241 waiting in emergency departments and 80 in wards elsewhere in hospitals.

There has been persistent criticism of UHL management by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster in recent weeks.

Scheduled care was cancelled at five hospitals and injury units in the Mid-West for an indefinite period in a bid to address patient flow issues at UHL.

Mr Donnelly has called for a range of reforms around management and clinical leadership at the hospital.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said on Sunday that a report into serious issues at the hospital was due to be brought to the Minister “very shortly”.

He said the Government would follow the recommendations of that report “without fear of favour”.

Mr Harris: “I think when it comes to the Mid-West, we should have an openness to a second emergency department, if that is the outcome of the Hiqa [Health Information and Quality Authority] review.

“There is absolutely a need for more bed capacity in the Mid-West. I recognise that, the minister recognises that.

“We have increased bed capacity significantly – but it’s also true to say that there are serious issues, I believe, in relation to how the health services in the Mid-West are being managed.”

The Taoiseach added: “I think it is fair to say, by any objective standards, there are serious issues [at UHL] that go beyond the conversation just around investment.”

In an interview with the Business Post on Sunday, Mr Donnelly suggested that there should be productivity incentives in the public healthcare system.

Asked if there needed to be a reconsideration of incentives in public hospitals, Mr Harris said: “I certainly think that is something that we should keep under consideration.”