Limerick TDs tackled on UHL crisis: Kieran O’Donnell, FG TD Limerick City; Minister of State

Following the declaration of a ‘major internal incident’ at UHL, we ask local TDs where the fault lies and what they think should be done to solve the crisis.

What steps are you currently taking to try to address the issues which have blighted University Hospital Limerick in recent months and years and which saw a ‘major internal incident’ declared at the hospital on January 2, 2023?

I held discussions with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly TD on Wednesday last to request the following immediate measures to address this unacceptable ED overcrowding situation in UHL for both patients and medical staff:

1. MAU(Medical Assessment Units) and Injury Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s should be opened up to 24 hours, 7 days per week

2. HSE’s PMIU(Performance Management Improvement Unit) to continue to operate in UHL

3. ED and other Medical Consultants should by physically on duty in UHL group, 24/7 during this emergency period to ensure there is no delay with treatment and discharge of patients to provide necessary available hospital beds

4. Secure all available bed capacity, within hospitals (public and private), step-down facilities and nursing homes

5. Requested meeting with Minister Donnelly, HSE and UHL Management which is to take place on this coming Wednesday.

Where - or with whom - do you think the fault lies in terms of the crisis at University Hospital Limerick?

1. Increased admissions to UHL ED due to Covid-19, RSV virus and the Flu

2. Questions remain on the adequacy of the winter plan preparations, which I will look for answers on at the meeting on this coming Wednesday with Minister Donnelly, HSE and UHL Management.

On 21st September last, at the Oireachtas health committee, I questioned UHL management and the HSE on their winter plan and what the PMIU had discovered in UHL.

On the winter plan, I highlighted at this meeting that ED trolley count numbers were now higher than at the same time the previous year and had UHL management and HSE nationally factored this into their winter plan to ensure they were adequate. The HSE informed me that the PMIU had seen improvements in the operation of the ED at UHL.

Do you think the current management team at University Hospital Limerick should be retained? If so, why? If not, why not?

Following publication of HIQA report on their inspection of UHL ED in June, I requested Health Minister to immediately arrange for HSE’s PMIU to go into UHL.

In light of my exchange with UHL management and HSE at the Oireachtas Health committee on 21st September, I have serious questions around the adequacy of the UHL winter plan.

However, my main focus currently is to ensure the immediate sourcing of necessary bed capacity to alleviate pressures at UHL ED. This must also involve making better use of existing facilities, including MAU and Injury units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s.

In no more than 200 words, how do you believe the ongoing crisis at University Hospital Limerick can be solved?

Short-term: It requires the immediate sourcing of bed capacity to alleviate the overcrowding at UHL ED. This will involve immediately implementing the measures I have outlined in point 1, 2,3 & 4 under the first question above.

Medium-term: Enhanced hospital bed capacity, 96 beds block underway at UHL on top of 122 new beds provided in last 2 years together with a further 96 bed block at UHL and an Elective hospital to be located in Limerick. Even with the 122 news beds in UHL and Croom hospitals over last 3 years and 96 beds under construction at UHL, the region still requires further hospital bed capacity. This stems originally from the ED re-configuration process back in 2009, where EDs in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s hospitals were closed before a new ED and enhanced bed capacity was provided in UHL as recommended in the Teamwork Consultants report at the time.

I wish to put on record my deep admiration for the hard-working on the ground medical, nursing, ambulance and all other staff in UHL and throughout the hospital group who are fatigued by the constant overcrowding pressures. Their absolute dedication to their patients in very trying circumstances is amazing.

Do you think a vote of no confidence should be tabled against Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly? Answer clearly either: Yes, No, or maybe.

No