The Junior Health Minister believes tackling patient flow could be the key to rapidly reducing the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital.
Minister Anne Rabbitte, who also has responsibility for Disability at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Intrgration and Youth, is in Ennis today to launch this year’s Embrace Visual Art and Performance event at glór.
University Hospital Limerick has consistently witnessed the highest levels of overcrowding in the country in recent years, and ongoing investment has resulted in increased capacity and staffing and expanded MAU services at Ennis General.
Minister Rabbitte says teams have been set up to discuss patient flow and she believes lessons can be learned from other hospitals, particularly Waterford, where trolley numbers are minimal.
You can listen to the interview below.
Meanwhile, the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital has shot up once again today.
The latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show there were 92 patients waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerickduring morning rounds, 39 of those in the Emergency Department.
It’s by far the highest number of any hospital in the country and is 30 more than the next busiest facility.
