An Ennis Fianna Fáil Councillor is calling on the UL Hospitals Group to reverse what he’s deemed an ‘ignorant’ decision that he says prevents people waiting with patients in the Emergency Department at the region’s main hospital.
Cllr Pat Daly became aware of the restriction on visitation at University Hospital Limerick’s A&E when he had to attend himself for a procedure late at night recently and his wife was forced to wait in the car until he was discharged.
The UL Hospitals Group has told Clare FM that people accompanying patients may be facilitated to remain in the Emergency department, including the waiting area, on compassionate grounds and on a case-by-case basis.
However, Fianna Fail Cllr Pat Daly says that the restrictions don’t take into account the distances that people may have to drive to reach the hospital or the safety concerns of those left waiting in the carpark during the night.
UHL RESPONSE:
Visiting in hospitals across the country has been severely curtailed since the beginning of the pandemic. We understand that these restrictions, while necessary, have been very difficult on patients and their loved ones.
