Independent TD Mattie McGrath is calling on the Taoiseach and the HSE to urgently address the issues facing University Hospital Limerick (UHL) following the publication of a report revealing the extent of overcrowding currently experienced at the hospital.
While raising the issue with the Taoiseach, Deputy McGrath detailed how the closure of emergency units in Nenagh and Ennis has placed enormous strain on the hospital with the lack of re-employment of health care specialists accelerating the crisis.
Referencing the Deloitte Report on Patient Flow at UHL, Deputy McGrath told the Taoiseach that UHL has experienced chaos due to overcrowding on a daily basis since the closure of A&E’s in both Nenagh and Ennis.
The Deloitte report recommended the hiring of additional specialist staff and the provision extra beds to meet the demand.
Deputy McGrath says staff are leaving due to the present working conditions all of which causes enormous trauma for patients.
Deputy McGrath wants Government action and says hospital management must be held to account.
Today there are 39 patients on trolleys in UHL and a further 18 patients have been accommodated in Limerick by adding beds to wards. TUH in Clonmel has 21 patients on trolleys.
Nationally there are 540 patients on trolleys with Cork University Hospital the highest with 65 patients receiving care on a trolley.
