Hospital overcrowding

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#Hospital overcrowding

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Lisbeth Carson using the Urgent Virtual Care service.</p>

munster

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.'

<p>More than 150 people were stuck on trolleys for 24 hours-plus in overcrowded hospitals as they waited for a bed on Monday, including 28 people over the age of 75. File picture</p>

news

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

<p>Minister for health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has focused on the options given by Hiqa to address overcrowding in Limerick, particularly options ‘B’ and 'C' — the former is a new elective-only centre, and the latter a longer-term plan for an additional hospital with an emergency department. File photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos</p>

spotlight

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

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital

munster

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

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

munster

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

Hospital surgery corridor

munster

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

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

Waiting seats for patients in the hospital

Online hospital dashboard lets public view a wealth of current Irish health data

Department of Health dashboard offers information ranging from waiting lists to spending and staffing

Thu, 26 Jun, 2025

Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture

Nothing will improve at UHL without a problem-solving culture

News again this week that UHL's A&E appears to be 'out of control' won't cause any surprise - but it will cause stress and worry for thousands of vulnerable patients, writes Siobhain Danaher

Thu, 19 Jun, 2025

Nurse sitting in a corridor while holding her head

'It just sounds like it’s out of control': Fears raised as UHL still under pressure

INMO counted 86 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick and five in Ennis on Tuesday

Wed, 18 Jun, 2025

Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September

Hiqa review of emergency services pushed out until September

Hiqa says it is waiting for the ESRI to finish an analysis of emergency care demand up to 2030 by region

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds

Ireland's two children's intensive care units 'under strain' from severe overcrowding, audit finds

Audit found very high occupancy rates of over 95% during 2023 at the units in CHI at Temple Street and CHI at Crumlin hospitals

Wed, 04 Jun, 2025

Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention

S Dr Chris Luke: Policing A&E should be treated like any other medical intervention

The news that gardaí are to be rostered to do shifts at the Mercy University Hospital in Cork may have surprised some, but to those of us who have chosen a career in acute healthcare, it is merely a reminder of a grim reality, writes Dr Chris Luke

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Patient beds in hospitals furniture interior decoration

Country will need 8,000 more public hospital beds by 2040, report says

The demand for more hospital beds will come about because of Ireland's growing and ageing population, according to the ESRI report

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Focused in an intense and emotional situation

Three ICUs had no urgent beds for 100-plus days last year

Beaumont Hospital, St Vincent’s University Hospital, and Limerick University Hospital were the worst hit — but almost all Irish hospital ICUs were above 90% capacity for more than 100 days in 2024

Mon, 12 May, 2025

Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses

Attack with fire extinguisher, punches, and racist comments among daily assaults on nurses

INMO conference delegates call for greater security in hospitals to protect nurses from abuse and harassment

Thu, 08 May, 2025

A&E nurses strike

Assaults of nurses 'are going up', conference told as INMO calls for legislation on staff levels

An INMO survey also revealed one in five nurses and midwives were going to their GP for work-related stress

Wed, 07 May, 2025

Why is Beaumont getting a new emergency department and not UHL? asks campaigner

Why is Beaumont getting a new emergency department and not UHL? asks campaigner

Member of the Midwest Hospital Campaign group Marie McMahon asked: 'Are we less important than patients on the other side of the country?'

Tue, 29 Apr, 2025

Hospital stock

Doctors raise concerns about HSE plan to roster seven-day working week

HSE chief Bernard Gloster outlined plan for seven-day roster to delegates at the Irish Medical Organisation AGM, but unions have questioned practicalities of proposed changes

Mon, 28 Apr, 2025

Consultants call for change to system of discharging patients from hospitals

Consultants call for change to system of discharging patients from hospitals

The 'criteria-led discharging' system increases the number of healthcare workers who can discharge a patient based on certain criteria

Mon, 31 Mar, 2025

File Photo Today HIQA will release Report into Portlaoise Hospital.

Over 1,100 submissions made to Hiqa review of emergency services in Mid-West

Hiqa was commissioned under the previous government to carry out a review of urgent and emergency healthcare services across Limerick, Clare, and north Tipperary

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

Health watchdog review on emergency services in Mid-West now with health minister

Health watchdog review on emergency services in Mid-West now with health minister

Hiqa was asked to consider whether a second emergency department was needed at University Hospital Limerick

Thu, 06 Mar, 2025