Search
05 Oct 2025
Search
05 Oct 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) is "currently experiencing exceptionally high demand with a significant number of admitted patients being accommodated on trolleys".
A UHL spokesperson said in a statement to media this Sunday morning: "We are urging patients and service users to use all available alternative services where possible. Injury units and out-of-hours GP services are fully operational and can provide care for non-life-threatening conditions.
"The Emergency Department at UHL is open 24-7 for patients with life-threatening emergencies however patients with less urgent injuries or illnesses are likely to wait substantial waiting times."
READ NEXT: 'I find myself more confused than ever' - Questions raised over HIQA review of Limerick hospital
There were 127 patients on trolleys in UHL on Friday, according to the INMO's Trolley Watch. Sixty two patients were on trolleys in the Emergency Department with 65 people on trolleys in other wards. The hospital with the second highest number of patients on trolleys on Friday was Sligo with 48.
"We thank the public for their patience at this time of exceptionally high demand for hospital services, and ask them to continue supporting us in ensuring emergency care is prioritised for the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients.
"Our injury units are open 8am to 8pm at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals with overall patient experience times averaging less than two hours.
"Surge capacity is open across our hospital sites and additional staff are rostered at weekends to increase discharges."
The UHL spokesperson apologised to every patient who is "currently facing an unacceptably long waiting time for a bed and our staff are doing everything possible to provide the best possible care while they do wait".
"We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and sincerely thank all hospital staff for their professionalism, dedication, and compassionate care during this period of exceptional activity.
"We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide further updates as necessary," concludes the statement from UHL.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
