The Mid-West Hospital Campaign has announced a protest over persistent chronic overcrowding at the region’s main hospital.
On Saturday 21st May, the group will take to the streets in Ennis to renew calls for the Emergency Department in the county town to be reopened and for Ennis General Hospital be upgraded to model three status.
Health campaigners from Clare, Limerick and Tipperary last gathered on February 1st 2020, protesting the then record figure of 92 people left waiting for a bed at University Hospital Limerick.
It was the last public gathering held by the MidWest Hospital Group, just before the last general election and right before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over two years later and the situation at the Dooradoyle facility has worsened, prompting action from the campaign group once more.
In response to the new-record number of 126 patients on trolleys on April 21st, a protest has been organised to take place in Ennis.
The public are urged to gather at The Height on Saturday May 21st.
Campaigners are once again calling for Ennis’ Emergency Department to be reopened and for Ennis General Hospital to be upgraded to a model three facility.
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, recently confirmed a specialist group is to be established to examine the level of overcrowding at UHL.
However, the MidWest Hospital Campaign have expressed concern at the Ministers response to questions submitted on their behalf in relation to the specialist team, accusing the Minister of issuing the same “stock reply” to various queries.
The Group insist that the government must now acknowledge that the reconfiguration of health services in the MidWest has failed.
