The Health Minister says he’s contiuing to monitor progress by the UL Hospitals Group on efforts to tackle chronic overcrowding at the region’s main hospital.
It’s after the Seanad heard concerns about persistantly high trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick, off the back of a report on patient satisfaction on Clare FM news.
These comments by Independent Councillor Ann Norton, outlining an experience she had while attending the ED at University Hospital Limerick, have been raised in the Seanad today.
The new emergency department opened last May, and management have previously acknowledged that it alone won’t lead to an improvement in overcrowding, but rather improve patient experience.
But Ennistymon Senator Martin Conway has raised concerns over the trolley numbers, which have persistently been the highest in the country.
That’s the case again today, with the INMO saying there were 46 people waiting for beds this morning, 31 of those in the emergency department.
Senator Conway can’t understand how overcrowding remains an issue, given the 24 million euro Government investment.
The Health Minister requested a meeting with the CEO of the UL Hospitals Group in October, following which the hospital submitted and ED improvement plan , and Minister Simon Harris says he’s continuing to monitor progress.
A new 17-bed short stay unit has recently opened as part of efforts to tackle numbers.
Speaking on behalf of Minister Harris, Minister of State Catherine Byrne has told the Seanad today that this and other measures have been introduced as part of the plan to deal with the issue this winter.
Meanwhile, staff at Ennis Hospital are urging people to attend their injury and medical assessment units to avoid overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick.
It comes as this week’s patient experience survey prompted fresh fears about the local hospital system – with 27% of patients in the UL Hospitals Group saying they waited at least 24 hours in the ED.
Management have said they must now consider what patients have said.
Patricia O’Gorman is Operational Director of Nursing in the Midwestern Regional Hospital Ennis – she says they need to communicate the message that they’re available to patients:
