WATCH: Hundreds join Limerick protest over hospital overcrowding crisis

A CROWD estimated to be around 300 people marched on the local HSE offices in protest at the overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

The march, organised by Solidarity, drew widespread support, as frustration and anger at the dozens of people waiting on trolleys in the emergency department at UHL boiled over.

The trolley figures, published by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) reached a 63 in the last week. But last month, a new high of 81 patients on trolleys was recorded.

And the Limerick Leader this week revealed how a 92-year-old woman had been left waiting on a trolley in the emergency department for 105 hours.

Addressing a rally held at City Hall immediately prior to the march, Derek Cromwell, who works as a nurse in the emergency department said: “Limerick is consistently top of the trolley watch figures, and it’ destined to get worse. This isn’t just now. It’s been consistent over the last five years. Absolutely nothing has been done. The senior management don’t seem to care, the government don’t care. All they are worried about is their pensions, their next job and making themselves look good.”

'University Hospital Limerick is consistently top of the trolley watch figures. These numbers are just going to rise and rise': Staff nurse Derek Cromwell addresses the #EnoughisEnough hospital protest in the city. pic.twitter.com/ZtFIfFQuOb

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) May 4, 2019

'Healthcare is a human right, give it back or we will fight': A crowd of around 300 people are marching on the @HSELive offices at Catherine Street in protest at the UHL overcrowding crisis. #EnoughIsEnough pic.twitter.com/rxRyKDZVHL

— Nick Rabbitts (@Nick468official) May 4, 2019

There was criticism of An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar over his decision not to visit UHL and see the overcrowding for himself when he was in the city on Thursday, with members of the crowd chanting ‘Leo, Leo, time to go’.

Solidarity councillor Mary Cahillane, who organised the demonstration through Facebook, said: “Leo Varadkar with his full complement of spin doctors has visited Limerick not once, but twice in the last two months. The first time he came he had the cheek to tell Fintan Walsh of the Limerick Leader that we need a different approach. Nothing happened. Seventeen beds had been closed by then, not once did Leo Varadkar say open them up. On Thursday, he took part in the most cringeworthy street busking event and at the end proclaimed he doesn’t do bullshit”.

“Well Leo, all I can say to you is you are not fooling us and we call bullshit on your spin, your arrogance and your lifes,” she added to cheers.

After the rally, the protestors marched around the city streets up to the HSE’s offices in Catherine Street.

The Limerick Leader is running a major campaign to highlight the continuing overcrowding crisis in University Hospital Limerick. For more information, click here.