For consecutive days, a multitude of hospitals situated in the midwest region have delayed all non-urgent surgical procedures. The hospital group of the University of Limerick, inclusive of University Hospital Limerick, Ennis Hospital, St John’s Hospital Limerick and the Croom orthopaedic clinic, is among those that have adjourned all elective operations.
This decision has been attributed to an overwhelmingly high influx of critically ill patients seeking medical assistance at emergency departments. Since the beginning of March, there have been 1,716 patients in critical condition, yielding a daily average of 245 patients.
Only urgent surgical interventions, particularly for patients with cancer, are currently being undertaken. The sudden swell in patients has led to 73 individuals awaiting a bed within the University Hospital Limerick’s emergency department.
As per the figures obtained from the HSE’s TrolleyGar, there were 62 patients awaiting accommodations at University Hospital Limerick this morning – 21 within the emergency department and 41 on the wards.
As the University Hospital Limerick grapples with the increasing quantity of patients, all scheduled elective activity will stay on hold for the foreseeable future.
In addition, a pharmacist from Limerick reported of a request from the HSE for aid in alleviating the pressure on University Hospital Limerick, which was initially disclosed through media outlets, rather than direct communication. According to Niall O’Sullivan, GPs and pharmacies are now being requested to assist in managing this crisis, yet there was no initial communication from HSE soliciting their support.
Dr Michael Kelleher, a general practitioner from Lahinch, has expressed concern over the need for increasing capacity in health services. He advocates for the addition of more beds and step-down facilities, coupled with the extension of community services to aid these step-down provisions. He highlighted that despite general practice playing a significant role in preventing hospital visits, its capabilities are limited.
Considering the growing and ageing population, the formerly winter-specific demand surge has now become a relentless yearly occurrence. The doctor predicts a fourfold rise in the population above 85 within the next quarter of a century. Dealing with this will require adequately enhancing our capacity, inspite of the imminent short-term problems, such as those present in Limerick currently.
Contrarily, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rebuffed the proposal to reopen closed emergency departments in the regional hospitals of Midwest to alleviate the severe trolley problem at University Hospital Limerick. He acknowledged that the decision, based on the advice of senior emergency department consultants, could seem unreasonable to those suffering the effects of overcrowding. In response to Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea’s plea for the reconsideration of the reopening of one of the three closed emergency departments in the region, including Ennis and Nenagh hospitals, Mr Varadkar argued against further stretching limited resources.
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