Hospital overcrowding

Sign in

#Hospital overcrowding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Staff at Naas General Hospital were also paid 'significantly higher' amounts to work on projects to tackle waiting lists. File picture</p>

news

Hospital paid almost €500k to two firms run by HSE doctors to tackle waiting lists

An audit also found consultants on National Treatment Purchase Fund projects were paid a fee per patient which is not how HSE salaries or overtime rates normally work

<p>Maire McMahon (right) of the Midwest Hospital Campaign said: 'I feel shafted, I feel we have been played.' File picture: Brendan Gleeson</p>

munster

Midwest Hospital Campaign want judicial review of planned site for new hospital in Limerick

<p>Consultant and UHL medical board member Joe Devlin welcomed the commitment in purchasing the Raheen site. Stock picture: Dan Linehan</p>

munster

New HSE Mid West hospital plan 'must progress without delay'

On the ground at the proposed site of the Mid-West's new hospital

munster

On the ground at the proposed site of the Mid-West's new hospital

44-acre site in Limerick confirmed as location of new hospital in Midwest

munster

44-acre site in Limerick confirmed as location of new hospital in Midwest

Fergus Finlay: I survived a health scare and learned something profound

HSE to acquire 43 acres of land at Raheen to ease pressure on UHL

HSE to acquire 43 acres of land at Raheen to ease pressure on UHL

It comes after an analysis of emergency services across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in the wake of a series of tragedies, including the death of teenager Aoife Johnston

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Government may set Rotunda Hospital as critical infrastructure to be rushed through planning

Government may set Rotunda Hospital as critical infrastructure to be rushed through planning

Minister Jack Chambers wants the critical infrastructure legislation to 'change the risk-averse nature of how decisions have been made across the public service'

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Bernard Gloster hoping to make big announcement for Limerick before he leaves HSE

Bernard Gloster hoping to make big announcement for Limerick before he leaves HSE

In his final weeks as HSE CEO, Bernard Gloster talks about issues in the Mid-West, nursing homes, Camhs, children's hospitals, and the HSE's disability services

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

CC ROTUNDA HOSPITAL

Refusal of Dublin hospital's new wing 'short-sighted', says medical organisation

The Irish Medical Organisation said the Government needs to designate healthcare as 'critical infrastructure'

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

Number of patients on trolleys falls in 17 hospitals

Number of patients on trolleys falls in 17 hospitals

Some 463 people were on trolleys waiting for a hospital bed on the Tuesday after the bank holiday

Mon, 16 Feb, 2026

CC ROTUNDA HOSPITAL

New wing at Dublin hospital refused after objections by conservation group

An Coimisiún Pleanála pointed out that the Rotunda Hospital's new Critical Care Wing would have 10 times the floor area of the outpatients building

Fri, 13 Feb, 2026

Patients to be treated at private hospital in HSE plan to ease UHL overcrowding

Patients to be treated at private hospital in HSE plan to ease UHL overcrowding

The plan would see some patients at UHL treated and cared for at the €213m private Bon Secours Hospital Limerick which opened in September 2024

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026

Discussion of healthcare reforms in Mid-West 'has gone quiet', warns patients' group

Discussion of healthcare reforms in Mid-West 'has gone quiet', warns patients' group

Chairman of the HSE Mid West Patient & Service User Council, John Wall, expressed frustration that a development board has not yet been set up.

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

Injury units across Midwest treated more than 50,000 people last year

Injury units across Midwest treated more than 50,000 people last year

But University Hospital Limerick's emergency department remains under severe pressure, HSE figures show

Wed, 28 Jan, 2026

Virtual urgent care service diverts 4,000 patients from Cork and Kerry hospital A&Es in its first year

Virtual urgent care service diverts 4,000 patients from Cork and Kerry hospital A&Es in its first year

The clinical director of emergency and acute care at CUH, Professor Conor Deasy, said: 'Often, patients can bypass the emergency department entirely and access their care directly.'

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

HSE CEO advises people to avoid emergency departments in areas if at all possible

HSE CEO advises people to avoid emergency departments in areas if at all possible

HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster said hospitals in Cork and Kerry are facing “significant pressures” from overcrowding.

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill faces defining year on hospitals, overcrowding and agency spend

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill faces defining year on hospitals, overcrowding and agency spend

Elective hospitals, overcrowding, long-awaited inquiries and spiralling costs will define a crucial year for the health minister

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital

Cork and Kerry hospital patients have a worse experience than those in Dublin, minister admits

Mallow Hospital runs a transfer from the Cork University Hospital (CUH) programme. This saw 705 patients transferred in the first 10 months of 2024, a project update stated

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

'She was screaming': Cork woman left lying on icy ground for hours due to ambulance delay

'She was screaming': Cork woman left lying on icy ground for hours due to ambulance delay

Family say ambulance delays left a woman with additional needs on icy ground for hours as vehicles queued outside CUH

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Hospital surgery corridor

HSE urges alternatives as CUH and Kerry hospitals overwhelmed by flu and weather injuries

Flu outbreaks, icy conditions and delayed discharges are driving high trolley numbers across hospitals in Cork and Kerry

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Hospital corridor with gurneys

Cork records the day's biggest numbers on trolleys as hospitals expect influx of flu patients

High numbers of flu patients are expected again this month, as well as more illnesses linked to the cold weather

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Cork and Limerick among worst hit as hospital overcrowding varies widely across Munster

Cork and Limerick among worst hit as hospital overcrowding varies widely across Munster

New INMO data highlights major disparities between Munster hospitals, with overcrowding levels varying dramatically from site to site

Thu, 01 Jan, 2026

Vigil in memory of University Hospital Limerick patients as overcrowding pressures continue

Vigil in memory of University Hospital Limerick patients as overcrowding pressures continue

'There are a lot of promises being thrown around, but there are no timelines yet'

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

A deep dive into the Government's solution to UHL's overcrowding crisis

A deep dive into the Government's solution to UHL's overcrowding crisis

The Government seems to have finally recognised there is an overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick, but will they follow through on their plans to resolve the situation in the Mid-West?

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

HSE expands 'virtual ward' service to all of its seven regions

HSE expands 'virtual ward' service to all of its seven regions

A technology kit allows patients to go home, instead of staying in hospital, and healthcare staff can monitor them remotely

Fri, 19 Dec, 2025

New hospitals for Midwest welcomed but campaigners raise timeline concerns

New hospitals for Midwest welcomed but campaigners raise timeline concerns

Melanie Cleary and Marie McMahon have been prominent voices in the Midwest Hospital Campaign

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Midwest to get two new hospitals and UHL to undergo expansion, health minister confirms

Midwest to get two new hospitals and UHL to undergo expansion, health minister confirms

One of the new hospitals in the region will have an emergency department

Tue, 16 Dec, 2025

UHL urges public to avoid emergency department as 350 people attend in one day

UHL urges public to avoid emergency department as 350 people attend in one day

Hospital warns of severe pressure on its emergency department and asks the public to seek alternative care for non-urgent needs

Wed, 03 Dec, 2025

Sick couple sneezing together covering mouth with wipes in a park

Up to 1,500 could be hospitalised with flu by Christmas week – minister

A new flu strain 'subclade K' now circulating in Ireland is said to cause more severe symptoms than previous strains of influenza

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

HSE apologises for 'failings' that led to girl's death at University Hospital Limerick

HSE apologises for 'failings' that led to girl's death at University Hospital Limerick

Inquest into 16-year-old Niamh McNally's death continues

Wed, 26 Nov, 2025

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital

Almost half of elderly A&E patients not treated within nine-hour timeframe

The noise, lights, and lack of sleep all add to health pressures and can lead to worse outcomes or contribute to a greater likelihood of unnecessary deaths, studies have shown.

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Cork hospital to get 24 new beds early in 2026, HSE boss confirms

Cork hospital to get 24 new beds early in 2026, HSE boss confirms

Bernard Gloster also criticised therapists with regard to taking on trainees at today's Oireachtas Health Committee meeting

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Mid-West breaking point: What will it take for the State to fix hospital care in Limerick?

Mid-West breaking point: What will it take for the State to fix hospital care in Limerick?

Doctors, nurses and campaigners urge the Government to treat Hiqa’s warning on Mid-West hospital capacity as a national emergency requiring long-term investment

Sat, 01 Nov, 2025

Government must declare 'capacity emergency' at UHL, hospital's medical board warns

Government must declare 'capacity emergency' at UHL, hospital's medical board warns

"Hiqa stated baldly this is posing a risk to patient safety, so if you don’t regard that as an emergency, I don’t know what is," said Dr Joe Devlin, deputy chairman of the University Hospital Limerick medical board.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Patient receiving chemotherapy at the hospital

Cancer patient's surgery 'was cancelled due to overcrowding'

Irish Cancer Society to tell Oireachtas health committee about delays and failures in treatment

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Limerick welcomes Ireland's first new large hospital in almost 20 years

Limerick welcomes Ireland's first new large hospital in almost 20 years

The Bon Secours Limerick project included a design team of 24 professionals, and features a nature-inspired interior, flower-shaped light fittings, and cutting-edge technology.

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Building another hospital to tackle overcrowding in the Mid-West 'on the table', says minister

Building another hospital to tackle overcrowding in the Mid-West 'on the table', says minister

The minister made the comments at the habitually overcrowded University Hospital, where she officially opened a €105m, 6,700, 96-bed block on Monday

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Mercy Hospital ED under severe strain as patients wait over 24 hours for beds

Mercy Hospital ED under severe strain as patients wait over 24 hours for beds

Mercy University Hospital is struggling with severe overcrowding as 24 patients remain on trolleys and the HSE appeals for alternatives

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Irish hospitals now so overcrowded they breach safe occupancy limits, report finds

Irish hospitals now so overcrowded they breach safe occupancy limits, report finds

Up to 934 extra beds needed in Cork and Kerry, to include up to 123 for day patients and up to 811 for in-patient overnight beds, ESRI data shows

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025

Is Hiqa's UHL review another overcrowding report to be left on a shelf until the next tragedy?

Is Hiqa's UHL review another overcrowding report to be left on a shelf until the next tragedy?

The long-awaited review of what needs to change for patients in Limerick was never going to please everyone, writes Niamh Griffin

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Limerick tops trolley figures again with 138 people awaiting admission

Hiqa warns Limerick hospital crisis needs urgent action with beds running out in Midwest

Health watchdog warns University Hospital Limerick faces dangerous overcrowding, urging immediate plans to expand capacity or add a second hospital

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week

First opening of a new hospital since 2007 set for this week

The €213m investment in the the Bon Secours hospital includes the first private cardiac cath-lab for the Mid-West region, covering Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary, as well as neighbouring counties.

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight

Jennifer Horgan: The betrayal of Ireland’s elderly is happening in plain sight

Michael D Higgins’ poetry forces us to confront Ireland’s failures in caring for its elderly, both within families and at State level

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025

In the Hospital Sick Male Patient Sleeps on the Bed. Heart Rate Monitor Equipment is on His Finger.

HSE warns it cannot fill vacancies even with agencies as staff shortage crisis deepens

HSE agency staff spending reached €726m last year, with even vulnerable patients increasingly cared for by temporary workers, new figures reveal

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Hospital surgery corridor

Almost 26,000 assaults on HSE staff over four years

Wait times blamed for tensions in hospitals

Sat, 09 Aug, 2025

Hospital Stock

Waiting list for endoscopy test climbs by more than 4,000 in five months despite €24m fund

Endoscopy tests can identify disease, including cancer

Fri, 08 Aug, 2025

More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month

More than 9,000 treated on trolley or 'inappropriate space' in Irish hospitals last month

Worst-affected hospital was University Hospital Limerick, with 2,257 people treated on trolleys

Fri, 01 Aug, 2025

Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department

Rise in covid-19 cases sees surge in presentations to CUH emergency department

The increase in ED presentations broght about by the rise in covid-19 cases earlier this week prompted hospital chiefs to issue a public appeal for people to consider all care options.

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Close up of doctor woman hands typing on laptop siting on a desk at the office

Hospitals dashboard data must be seen in proper context, say consultants

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association called for analysis to reflect outcomes, and not just the volume of patients seen in hospitals

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025