Hospital management says all staff reporting for duty in Limerick 'will not be out of pocket'

THE UL Hospitals Group has stated that the HSE is “covering all associated costs” for staff who have been required to report for duty in hospitals across Limerick and the Mid-West during Storm Emma. 

Approximately 200 staff in the Limerick, Clare and Tipperary have been accommodated locally in hotels. There is a cohort of staff who have been lodged with friends and family as Met Eireann’s Red weather alert remains in place until 6pm this Friday. 

Three nurses at University Hospital Limerick will receive specialist transport by the emergency services to ensure they can carry out their duties this Friday night.

A nurse who was snowed into her home received a helping hand from the emergency services who transported her to University Maternity Hospital Limerick for duty this Thursday.

“As the status red weather warning issued for Munster by Met Eireann remains in place, UL Hospitals Group would encourage people to avoid any unnecessary travel and heed the warnings that are in place,” a spokesperson stated this Friday morning. 

The spokesperson said that they are not operation with full staff, but have “adequate staffing cover across all our sites to deliver safe patient care”. 

Met Eireann's weather warning for tomorrow means that majority of elective surgeries and outpatient appointments in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary are being cancelled. If unsure, see useful contact details below. For more, read this @Limerick_Leader piece: https://t.co/0Dt9mUzsXD pic.twitter.com/DJeXSyHpjc

— Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) February 28, 2018

“Our staff have made heroic efforts to keep frontline and emergency services going during the current severe weather including ensuring people make it to work and remain at work to support colleagues. Where staff are, or have been, required to stay overnight to ensure they are available for work the next day or to cover for colleagues who cannot make it to work due to the severe weather conditions, the HSE is covering all associated costs. No staff member will be out of pocket as a result of having to stay overnight.”

“UL Hospitals Group would like to acknowledge the extraordinary lengths staff are going to, to get into work ensuring the continuation of essential services and care to our patients.”

All services within the UL Hospitals Group are operating as normal, the spokesperson added. 

“As a reminder all elective surgery and outpatient appointments are cancelled in the majority of cases across UL Hospitals Group (University HospitalLimerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Croom Orthopaedic Hospital) today Friday, March 2nd.”