Figures show ‘chronic underinvestment’ in University Hospital Limerick

NEW FIGURES released by the HSE show a “chronic underinvestment” in health services in the Mid-West.

Despite University Hospital Limerick being the most overcrowded hospital in the country last year, only seven full-time healthcare professional positions in Acute Services were created there in 2022.

The figures also show that University Maternity Hospital Limerick was one of five hospitals across the country to experience a reduction in staff numbers in Acute Services with 265 WTE (whole-time equivalent) health professionals employed at the facility in December 2022 compared to 274 in December 2021.

The figures were released in response to a parliamentary question by Michael McNamara, Independent Clare TD.

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The report shows that just 61 of the 2,645 WTE acute services positions created last year in Irish hospitals were located in hospitals within the UL Hospital Group.

This compared with the creation of 579 WTE positions in Saolta University Hospital Care, 547 in the South/South West Hospital Group, 498 in the RCSI Hospitals Group, 459 in the Ireland East Hospital Group, 418 in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and 77 in Children’s Health Ireland.

An additional 666 and 38 WTE positions were created in Community Services and Health and Wellbeing services in 2022.

Deputy McNamara stated, “The picture painted by these figures suggests a chronic underinvestment in hospitals across this region and therefore, there should be no surprise as to why waiting lists and trolley numbers here remain consistently higher than other parts of the country.”