HIQA respond to rumours over University Hospital Limerick visit
THE Health Information and Quality Authority have denied that they made an unnanounced visit to University Hospital Limerick on Wednesday.
The confirmation follows intense speculation that HIQA were planning a visit to the crisis-ridden hospital.
HIQA have confirmed to Limerick Live that these reports were false.
The hospital declared a "major internal incident" at the Dooradoyle hospital on Sunday when the Emergency Department was seeing "unprecedented demand".
Posts have been circulating on social media that healthcare staff were asked to move patients on trolleys from the Emergency Department to other areas of the hospital in expectation of a visit from HIQA.
Pictures have also been shared online allegedly showing corridors at the hospital empty following the moving of patients.
When contacted by Limerick Live this Wednesday, the University of Limerick Hospital Group have said they are "not aware" of any planned inspection of UHL by HIQA.
Limerick Live has received unconfirmed reports that representatives from the authority visited the hospital on Wednesday afternoon.