University Hospital Limerick overcrowding sparks another protest

LIMERICK is gearing up for another protest scheduled to take place this Sunday, May 28, in response to the concerning number of patients on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Despite the public outcry earlier this year, the number of patients on trolleys at UHL has once again reached alarming levels.

A previous protest, in January, which witnessed a very high turnout of over 11,000 people, called for the immediate reopening of all three Mid-West emergency departments in Ennis, Nenagh, and St. John's.

The protest is scheduled for 2pm on Sunday, outside City Hall on Merchants Quay, Limerick city.

The aim of the protest, like in January, is to alleviate the mounting pressure on UHL, as emergency departments across the country face record-breaking trolley figures.

However, despite the public's united demand for change, the situation at UHL has not improved significantly.

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The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) consistently highlight UHL as the worst-performing hospital in the country, reflecting a persistent systemic issue.

The organisers hope that a strong turnout of “public outcry” will send a clear message to the government about the current state of UHL.

Protest organiser Mike Daly said, “the current system in UHL is broken and has been for a number of years.

“This is evidenced in the INMO trolley watch numbers which consistently show Limerick as the worst in the country.”

He added, “this is literally a matter of life and death and we are asking everyone to turn out and let their voice be heard.”

As the people of Limerick rally together in the face of this ongoing healthcare crisis, it remains to be seen whether their collective voice will be the catalyst for major and necessary changes at UHL.