The region’s main hospital has recorded it’s highest ever level of overcrowding for the month of March.
The INMO’s latest analysis shows trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick rose by 46% in the past month, compared to the same time last year, while Ennis General Hospital saw a 27% increase.
The latest trolleywatch analysis from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation shows that a record breaking 1,022 patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick in the past month.
It’s the highest ever figure for the month of March and represents a 46% rise on the same period last year, and a 443% increase on this month a decade ago.
Yesterday alone there were 72 patients awaiting admission.
The Dooradoyle facility has been experiencing persistently high levels of patients attending since the beginning of the year, with storm Emma and the flu outbreak exascerbating the problem.
Ennis General Hospital has also seen increased levels of overcrowding – there were 28 patients on trolleys there, up from 22 the time last year.
The UL Hospitals Group has apologised to patients suffering long waits and is reassuring that they’re working to alleviate the situation.
Patients are being urged to contact their GP or GP out of hours service in the first instance, and to make use of the Injury Unit or the Medical Assessment Unit at Ennis General Hospital.
