Over 9,000 patients leave University Hospital Limerick without being seen

MORE than 9,000 patients left University Hospital Limerick (UHL) without treatment last year, new figures have shown.

Data obtained by Aontu revealed some 9,180 patients left the Emergency Department (ED) at the Dooradoyle hospital without being seen in 2022.

Obtained following a parliamentary question by party leader Peadar Tóibín, the statistics have been described as being "dreadful" by local Aontu representative Sarah Beasley.

The number of patients who have checked out instead of waiting for treatment is up from the 2021 figure of 5,334 and the 2020 amount of 2,852.

HIQA inspection underway at University Hospital Limerick

It comes amid continuing concerns at the overcrowding crisis at UHL, with Limerick Leader/LimerickLive highlighting the situation on a regular basis, and joining a protest march last month.

According to the statistics, only two other hospitals in Ireland had a higher number of people leaving the facility without treatment.

The Mater hospital on Dublin's northside had 11,442 people leaving before completing their treatment, while on the southside of the capital in Tallaght University Hospital, the check-out rate was 10,445 in 2022.

Ms Beasley said: "The fact nearly 10,000 people in Limerick left Emergency Departments without being seen reflects very poorly on the HSE and highlights all the more the need for proper investment in healthcare in the whole Mid-West region - particularly in terms of primary care, staff numbers, ward configuration, bed capacity and infrastructure."