Limerick hospital forced to transfer patients in overcrowding crisis

By David Raleigh

University Hospital Limerick has said it is transferring patients to hospitals in Clare and Tipperary because of a spike in patients attending the Emergency Department.

According to the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation there are 55 patients waiting on trolleys at UHL this morning.

The hospital said in a statement that there is "an unexpected increase in patients presenting over the last 24 hours which has resulted in high numbers of patients waiting on trolleys and long delays for patients".

The hospital said "factors contributing to the increase in pressure within the ED is the older age profile of patients presenting along with the complexity of issues they have."

There is also an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug at the hospital with a visiting ban in place.

UL Hospitals Group said it has enacted an "escalation plan" to deal with the increase in patient numbers including transferring patients to Ennis Hospital (Clare), Nenagh Hospital (Tipperary) and St John’s Hospital (Limerick).

"Where possible and with the support of our colleagues in the Community, patients who have finished their care are being transferred to community care," the hospital added.

An Assistant Director of Nursing from the Community Healthcare Organisation (CHO) has been transferred to UHL to facilitate the timely transfer of patients to the most appropriate services in the Community.

Extra rounds are ongoing to identify patients who have finished their episode of acute care to enable them to be discharged, the hospital explained.

Non urgent, elective surgery scheduled for today has been cancelled. All non-urgent elective surgery scheduled to take place this week across the Group is being reviewed.

Local Injury Units are open in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday and 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday at St. John's Hospital.

The hospital said patients aged five years and over with minor injuries -- for example suspected broken bones in arm or lower leg, sprains, strains, minor scalds, burns or cuts -- are encouraged to visit their Local Injury Units for treatment.

Today's figures from the INMO report over 400 people on trolleys in hospitals around the country.