Calls for Minister for Health to visit University Hospital Limerick

CALLS have been made for Stephen Donnelly to visit the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick. 

Senator Maria Byrne has sent a letter to the Minister for Health asking him to visit the ED after days of unprecedented demand at the hospital.

There are 76 people waiting on trolleys at UHL today, the highest number in the country. 

Health Minister says pressure on hospitals likely to get worse

Senator Maria Byrne wrote to the minister after the hospital declared a "major internal incident" saying: "I consider it vital that Minister Donnolly should visit UHL as a matter of urgency to ascertain how this problem is continuously arising with a view to resolving it as soon as possible". 

Speaking to RTE Radio One's News at One, Minister Donnelly said that there is "worse to come" regarding the current pressure on the healthcare system. 

"Some of the best run healthcare systems across Europe are experiencing the same pressures as we are here. We have a comprehensive winter plan in place to deal with this 'perfect storm' that we are currently seeing". 

There have been unconfirmed reports today that a team from HIQA have been sent to UHL to assess the situation in the Emergency Department. 

Limerick Live has contacted University Hospital Limerick and the Department of Health for comment.