The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says the level of overcrowding at the region’s main hospital is out of control.
The nursing union have recorded 891 patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick so far this month.
The highest ever number of patients waiting for a bed was recorded yesterday morning, with 95 people on trolleys at the Dooradoyle facility.
While this has decreased to 70 today, University Hospital Limerick still remains the most overcrowded hospital in the country.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation have reiterated their call for an independent review of the overcrowding at UHL and for direct ministerial intervention to tackle the issue.
The nursing union first made the plea in July of this year, however Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly at the time stated that such action was not required.
Despite 100 beds coming on stream at the facility this year, the numbers on trolleys have continued to worsen.
Ann Norton, Mayor of Ennis and also a former member of the Regional Health Forum West, is backing the INMO’s calls for direct intervention.
The Irish Patients Association say that hospital management are operating in crisis mode and are calling for the problems at University Hospital Limerick to be looked at by the HSE and Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Stephen McMahon, spokesperson for the patients advocacy group insists it’s necessary to assess the resources that are currently on site to deal with the high numbers presenting.
However, he feels the issue can’t be tackled by hospital management alone.
Meanwhile, an Ennistymon woman whose husband died on a trolley in 2018 is calling on Clare’s Oireactas members to speak out on the overcrowding issues facing the region’s main hospital.
Marie McMahon is a member of the MidWest Hospital Campaign and says they’re prepared to take to the streets once more to have their voices heard.
She feels the issue is being ignored by our local representatives.
