HIQA is to undertake inspections of the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick and work with hospital management to develop a strategic plan to address overcrowding.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly says the authority has received an evaluation of the current factors influencing crowding in the emergency department from the Hospital Group CEO Colette Cowan.
The hospital repeatedly has the highest levels of overcrowding and the INMO has made repeated calls for a whole of hospital review to deal with patient flow issues.
The Clare TD Michael McNamera is concerned that HIQA can only make recommendations within its remit meaning that actions such as upgrading or reopening EDs in Nenagh, St Johns and or Ennis are unlikely to be considered.
Minister Donnelly notes that Hospital management are operating an escalation plan which includes additional ward rounds, accelerated discharges, and identification of patients for transfer to UL Model 2 hospitals.
Management at UL say that additional beds are required which cannot be delivered in the short term.
