Shortage of doctors

EMERGENCY services in Limerick are set to worsen in coming weeks due to a proposed downgrading of the emergency department (ED) at St John’s Hospital, a nurses leader warned yesterday.

Mary Fogarty of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said a member of their executive had been told it was planned to reduce the opening hours at the emergency department & in St John’s.

At present the hospital emergency department opens from 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday.

But the INMO have been told these opening hours will be reduced by up to three hours a day due to a shortage of doctors at the hospital. The hospital has been unable to recruit two emergency department & doctors due to the recruitment embargo, according to the INMO

Ms Fogarty said their organisation has been told that the board of St John’s will be informed of the move in coming days.

According to informed sources, Ms Fogarty said the reduction in ED hours will come into effect early next month.