The INMO has rejected calls for a senior manager to tackle overcrowding in our hospitals, despite continued high figures.
The number of people on trolleys at UHL has dropped today from yesterday’s near-record levels, but remains the highest in the country.
There have been calls for the appointment of a Project Coordinator to oversee communication between the five hospital units in the UL Hospitals Group as Clare FM’s Ben Sweeney reports:
What was once a seasonal issue in the winter, now appears to be becoming a year-round problem.
57 people were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick yesterday morning, following a surge in patient attendances over the past number of days – a record high for this time of year.
That number fell as the day progressed, but today UHL remains the busiest hospital in the country with 39 people waiting to be admitted, 18 of those in the ED.
Funds have been approved for the design stage of an 96-bed extension to the department, while hospital management say plans to open a 17-bed short stay unit for medical patients in the old ED are well advanced.
The UL Hospitals Group says there has been an upturn in attendances since the new ED opened in May and Barefiled Independent Councillor Ann Norton, who is a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West says that was to be expected.
Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD says the overcrowding issue at the region’s main hospital has reached crisis levels.
Deputy Timmy Dooley says someone needs to take responsibility for that.
But the Midwest’s Representative of the INMO doesn’t agree, saying that appointing another manager won’t solve the issues caused by the reconfiguration of Midwest hospitals.
Mary Fogarty says funding is key to solving the overcrowding crisis.
