134 people on trolleys at UHL is a national scandal – Sheehan

Limerick Labour General Election Candidate has said that the fact there are 134 people waiting for a bed on trolleys at UHL is a national scandal.

Cllr Sheehan said:

“We are at the beginning of winter below the real impact of flu and other respiratory viruses such as Covid can be quantified and there are already 134 people on trolleys.

“This is a national scandal and should shame the Government but it does not. People in Limerick are terrified of going to their local hospital.

“Minister Donnelly must immediately publish how he plans to tackle this crisis in our hospital which occurs annually and gets worse every single year.

“We will also have a spike in Covid and flu as the winter progresses which will put significant pressure on our hospital and we need strong public information campaign to urge people to get their flu and covid vaccine.

“Labour in Government will end the HSE Pay and Numbers strategy which is leaving positions at hospitals such as UHL deliberately vacant and unfilled, putting more pressure on frontline hospital staff and undermining services.

“We will also deliver a Model 3 hospital in the Mid-West with a second Emergency Department and expedite the publication of the HIQA review into emergency care capacity to determine where it should be located.

“Healthcare workers are extremely concerned about the weeks and months ahead and given the scale of overcrowding at this early staff, their concern is justified.

“This needs an immediate response from Government or a winter of hell awaits healthcare workers and people needing care in our hospital.”