A series of reforms that are being implemented at University Hospital Limerick are beginning to reduce the number of people on trolleys, the health minister has said.
Stephen Donnelly said University Hospital Limerick (UHL) said that reforms had begun to be implemented, but he was not satisfied they were “fully in place” yet.
There has been a focus on conditions at UHL since the death of 16-year-old Aoife Johnston at the hospital in 2022, who waited 12 hours to be assessed when she had suspected sepsis.
An independent investigation is examining the circumstances surrounding Aoife’s death; an initial report found that overcrowding in the hospital’s emergency department was “endemic”.
Figures by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) indicate that there were 141 people waiting for a hospital bed on trolleys and in wards in UHL on Tuesday night.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Donnelly said that we should be seeing reductions in people waiting on trolleys in the Limerick hospital “now”.
“I am completely of the view that there are reforms and further changes that can happen and that have been happening in the last few weeks at UHL that are week by week beginning to bring those trolley numbers down,” Mr Donnelly said.
“Adding the 86 beds will help, they need that capacity, when the new 96-bed block opens next year and then the second 96-bed block opens, that’s going to make a big difference as well.”
He added: “The two things that are going to quickly reduce the number of patients on trolleys are getting the 86 beds open this year and driving further reforms in the hospital.
“I am not yet satisfied that those reforms are fully in place, they have started, it’s very encouraging. There’s a ways to go.”
Mr Donnelly said that the number of people waiting on trolleys in UHL fell last year due to 108 extra beds and a 40 per cent increase in staff.
He said: “We should be seeing reductions now. We should have been seeing reductions all year.
“I am not satisfied obviously with the situation in Limerick so we’re doing two further things.
“We’re investing in more capacity this year. I went to Limerick probably about two months ago at this stage and announced an additional 86 beds.
“We’re opening the medical assessment units now 24/7 on a phased basis. That’s coming in, we’re putting a GP on the door.
"We’re further increasing capacity within the hospital. And as you’re aware I’ve now asked Hiqa to do a review on the case for a second emergency department in the Midwest.
“However, as anyone in this hospital and many hospitals will tell you in the country, the solution to getting patients the care they need quicker is two things: it’s more capacity, and it’s reforms, improvements and modernisation in how that care is delivered.”
