In excess of seven thousand more patients have been left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick so far this year than any other hospital in the country.
The latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show there were more than 17,000 patients on trolleys at the University Hospital Limerick between January and today.
It comes as a spotlight has been shone on the Dooradoyle facility, following record-breaking levels of overcrowding earlier this week.
17,668 admitted patients were left waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick between January 1st and today, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s latest trolley watch analysis.
That compares to 10,471 at Cork University Hospital; the next busiest facility in the country.
It comes on a week when UHL has come into sharp focus, with record-breaking trolley numbers recorded by the nurses’ union on Monday, when it says 130 patients were waiting for beds at the Dooradoyle facility.
The CEO of the HSE has disputed those figures at the Oireachtas Health Committee, however.
Responding to a question from Ennistymon Fine Gael TD Martin Conway, Bernard Gloster said trolley numbers were closer to 100, though he’s admitted UHL management is in need of additional assistance.
Clare’s Independent TDs have also raised the issue of Chronic overcrowding in the Dáil.
Speaking during a Sinn Féin Motion on health service funding in 2024, Deputy Michael McNamara warned “lives are being lost because people are afraid to go to hospital in Limerick”.
He also claimed “lives are being lost because people do go to hospital in Limerick”, saying “it’s not fit for purpose”.
The Scariff Deputy has criticised the Government’s failure to tackle the issue and says someone somewhere needs to do something.
With more than 100 patients on trolleys at UHL every single day since October 19th, Independent Deputy Violet Anne Wynne says “the people of the Mid-West are dying at the feet of this government”.
The Kilrush TD is also demanding that steps are urgently taken to address the issue of chronic overcrowding in the Midwest.
You can listen to the two Dáil addresses below.
