Record-breaking levels of overcrowding at UHL for second time this year
Record broken again at UHL following 'predictable post-bank holiday trolley surge'
UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick (UHL) has once again broken the record for the number of patients on trolleys in a single day.
It was reported by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation that there are 138 patients on trolleys this Tuesday morning at UHL, following the bank holiday weekend.
The previous record for the number of patients waiting for a bed at the hospital was 132, set on Monday, January 22, a little over two weeks ago.
This Tuesday morning saw 65 waiting on trolleys in the Emergency Department with a further 73 waiting on trolleys in various wards around the hospital.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that "we are once again seeing another predictable post-bank holiday trolley surge in hospitals around the country."
"It is clear that the system is now completely overwhelmed. We need targeted measures to tackle this crisis, particularly in the Midwest where overcrowding is completely out of hand."
There were a total of 683 people waiting on trolleys across hospitals in Ireland.
UHL made up over 20% of all patients waiting on trolleys in Ireland this Tuesday, February 5.
Independent TD for Clare, Violet Anne Wynne released a statement in response to the figures, calling on the government to "grow up, get with the programme and start laying the groundwork for the reinstatement of the Emergency Department at Ennis Hospital."
"Today, the hospital has broken yet another record with respect to overcrowding – 138 on trolleys – the highest in the history of the State and the third time that they have broken that record in 7 months.
"This Government need to face facts and the fact of the matter is that without a Model Three hospital in the region to support it, UHL will continue to break these records," Deputy Wynne continued.