Health minister witnesses highest number on trolleys in Ireland during surprise visit to Limerick hospital

THE MINISTER of Health made a surprise visit to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where she spoke to patients and staff.

A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed to Limerick Live that Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill decided to call in "unannounced" to UHL on Good Friday to visit the emergency department (ED) at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend. 

“The minister spoke with patients, with healthcare staff in the ED and with ambulance crews who were at UHL at the time.

“There is an ongoing drive for sustainable improvements in the timely delivery of urgent and emergency care across the country,” said the spokesperson.

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As part of these efforts, an increased focus is being put on the delivery of integrated services on a seven-day basis, said the spokesperson.

This is being done “by ensuring sufficient senior decision makers are rostered throughout the entire week, including evenings, weekends and public holidays”.

There were 19 patients on trolleys in ED and a further 41 on trolleys in wards in UHL on Friday, April 18, according to the HSE. 

UHL’s total number of patients on trolleys (60) was the highest in the country and three times the next highest - St James’ Hospital in Dublin with 20.

In a statement to media on Good Friday prior to the minister's visit, HSE Mid-West said the ED at University Hospital Limerick is open 24/7 for the most acute and life-threatening conditions. 

“With the ED continuing to experience high attendances in the run-up to the holiday weekend, we are working to maximise patient flow in our acute hospitals and across the healthcare system in the region.

“Additional consultants are on duty in UHL and in response to high ED attendances, we have enhanced and expanded local patient access to urgent care facilities and medical assessments units as an alternate pathway to ED.

“The injury units and GP-referral medical assessment units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals are managing an average of approximately 1,200 patients per week,” said the statement.