Stephen Donnelly, the Health Minister, has identified a range of problems namely, leadership, management, and capacity, contributing to the persistent problem of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick.
Recently, the UL Hospital Group proposed a significant cutback in routine treatment across five hospitals in the midwest of the country. This action hopefully eases the pressure on Ireland’s most congested medical institution.
A support group recommended a two-week “reset” after studying the situation at UHL and recognising various factors that contribute to the excessive number of patients on gurneys at the health centre.
Addressing the media last Tuesday, Donnelly observed that many hospitals report fewer patients waiting on trolleys. Nevertheless, he added, “UHL is experiencing a serious issue.”
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has indicated that many reforms that have worked well in other hospitals are not fully implemented at UHL. Donnelly suggests that recurrent pressure and the added inertia when having to manage emergent situations might be the cause of this.
Donnelly acknowledged that workers in the hospital are likely overworked. However, he emphasised the importance of having senior members like consultants present during weekends and evenings.
He highlighted an issue during a recent bank holiday where the rate of patient discharge decreased significantly at UHL, which was not the case in other hospitals. Therefore, he upheld the significance of leadership, management, and capacity issues within the hospital.
The Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association (IHCA) rebuked the decision to delay programmed healthcare, labeling it as “neglect of the people” in the midwest. Despite the criticism, HSE’s chief executive, Bernard Gloster, defended the move, stating that numerous exclusions were made during the care delay. He further explained that this action’s fallout is more favourable compared to the alternative scenario where severely ill patients would endure excessively long waits for medical treatment due to the lack of beds.
In a separate matter, an investigation into the death of Aoife Johnston, a 16-year-old who tragically lost her life after a 15-hour wait for antibiotics at UHL, led by prior chief justice Frank Clarke, has been concluded. The report is now in the hands of high-ranking HSE officers.