There are 426 patients waiting for a bed in hospitals around Ireland, with University Hospital Limerick the worst hit.

As talks at the Labour Court over nurses' pay and conditions adjourned until next week the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation warns that it has only suspended its strike action, not called it off.

Ireland’s first National Patient Experience Survey is “the first real effort” to hear the voice of the patients, according to Health Minister Simon Harris.

A big drop in admissions to the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick at weekends may be attributed to people putting health concerns aside rather than missing out on social or recreational pursuits on Saturdays and Sundays, a spokesperson for the hospital said yesterday.

A leading clinical director believes a second emergency department would be beneficial for the Mid-West region in the wake of claims that University Hospital Limerick is in “chaos”.