NEARLY 17,500 people waited for more than 12 hours in the emergency department (ED) at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) up to the start of October last year.
And more than 5,500 of those waited more than 24 hours.
That’s according to figures released to Limerick Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan, who also learned on foot of his Dáil question that 75,341 people presented at the UHL ED in the same period up to October 19.
Deputy Quinlivan said that “the number of emergency department presentations at University Hospital Limerick exceeds those of all other hospitals” across Ireland.
“Figures released to me confirm that 75,341 people presented at UHL. This represents a 10 per cent increase on last year and is significantly higher than the national average of a four per cent year-to-date increase.
“A significant factor in the increase in emergency department presentations is the increase in the number of patients aged over 75 years who have presented at the ED. The number of patients aged over 75 has increased by 18 per cent in comparison to a statewide average of 7.2 per cent.”
The Limerick TD said that “these figures make clear that the capacity and overcrowding challenges at UHL continue unabated”.
“The recent Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) report into emergency care in the HSE Mid West laid out three options for the Ministers for Health to consider … the vast number of overall presentations at UHL make it clear that all three of these options should all be implemented”.
He added that the figures “make clear” that a new Model 3 hospital for the region is needed.
In answer to the Deputy’s Dáil query, Ian Carter, CEO of Mid West Acute and Older People Services, wrote that “despite this increase in demand, patient experience times (PET) have reduced”.
“The median ED PET time for UHL so far this year stands at 5.9 hours, in line with the national average for all hospitals but better than overall PET times for other Model 4 hospitals.
“PETs recorded by the HSE quantify the length of time patients spent in the emergency departments before they are either discharged or admitted to hospital. They are not equivalent to waiting times for treatment. Patients commence treatment in the emergency department as soon as they are triaged”.