THE NUMBER of admitted hospital patients being treated on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) across the month of August jumped by almost 50 per cent on the same period last year.
The figure is 715 patients higher than the next most overcrowded hospital reported for the month, Galway University Hospital, according to figures just released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO)
The latest analysis from the INMO Trolley Watch – taken on weekdays only, and not including public holidays – shows a jump of 45 per cent in trolley figures at UHL on August 2024.
There were 1,773 admitted patients waiting on trolleys for a regular bed at UHL last month, up from 1,215 in August 2024.
The figures tower above the 618 reported 10 years ago in 2015.
This comes as the overdue HIQA report into emergency care in the Mid West has still not been published.
Sinn Féin TD for Limerick, Maurice Quinlivan, criticised government parties for failing to adequately address the trolley crisis at UHL.
He called for an immediate intervention to address trolley numbers, and to ensure that patient safety is not at risk.
“Since 2011, we have seen a 600 per cent increase in the number of people treated on hospital trolleys at UHL,” Deputy Quinlivan said.
“There has been a year-on-year increase in each of the last eight years, barring the pandemic year of 2020.
“Each of those who waited on trolleys or a hospital corridor this month were assessed and deemed in need of a bed, and yet no bed was available to them. Treating people in this manner is a risk to patient safety. Staff are under constant pressure and patients will ultimately suffer.”
Deputy Quinlivan said that “already this year, 15,798 people have been in UHL without a bed. Clearly 2025 looks like it is going to be the worst year for overcrowding in UHL since figures began.”
Concerning the commissioned report into emergency care in the Mid West, a spokesman for the HSE Mid West told the Limerick Post that HIQA is responsible for the report and the HSE has no say in when it will be published.
“HSE Mid West has made a submission to HIQA as part of their statutory review to inform the delivery of safe quality urgent and emergency care in the Mid West region of Ireland,” the spokesman said.
“HIQA had sought views of patients, family members, members of the public, healthcare professionals, representative groups, and interested parties in the Mid West region. The HSE Mid West submission is one of over 1,100 submissions made to HIQA.
“We consulted widely with staff across all our services to understand their views and developed a comprehensive clinically-led submission. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further until HIQA have an opportunity to evaluate all submissions. We await the publication of the statutory review.”
