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.