Bespoke plan needed to tackle trolley chaos in University Hospital Limerick
Labour TDs for the Mid West region, Alan Kelly TD and Jan O’Sullivan TD have said Fine Gael are doing the people of the Midwest a disservice when it comes to dealing with overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick.
Deputy Kelly, the Labour Party’s Health spokesperson said:
“Throughout the month of October, over 1450 people were on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick, making it the most overcrowded hospital yet again.
“As Labour reps for the Midwest region, we are constantly saying that it is unacceptable for consistently high trolley numbers – not just for patients but for staff and people who live in the area, who are genuinely concerned about what is going on in the hospital.
“We know that that there are over 100 unfilled nursing posts in University Hospital Limerick alone, the hospital with the highest trolley count today. Staff in UHL are over stretched, stressed beyond words because of the recruitment ban the government continues to deny exists.
“Yet again we are seeing stupidly high numbers in University Hospital Limerick has been record numbers of people on trolleys in UHL. If this is how bad it is in October. What is it going to be like in December and January?
“Minister Harris needs to bring forward a bespoke, tailored plan for University Hospital Limerick that includes widening treatment pathways in Nenagh and Ennis.
Deputy O’Sullivan, the Labour TD for Limerick City said:
“It has been another month of trolley chaos in University Hospital Limerick, throughout a mild October. With winter approaching rapidly, what approach is Fine Gael going to take to solve the crisis in UHL?
“We have now had 8 years of Fine Gael at the helm in health and it has done nothing to cure the symptoms of the trolley crisis in UHL – we have seen monthly trolley numbers treble in size in Limerick since during that time.
“No other hospital in the State is treated in the same manner as UHL. Why are the health needs of the people of Limerick, Tipperary and Clare being ignored by Fine Gael?
“The Minister for Health needs to come forward with a real plan that is adequately financed to put patients, staff and their families at ease.”