Vigil in memory of University Hospital Limerick patients as overcrowding pressures continue

Melanie and Sarah Cleary with a picture of Eve Cleary at a remembrance vigil for those impacted by overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

This time of year is particularly hard for Melanie Cleary.

Her daughter Eve died in 2019, just hours after being discharged from University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

On New Year's Eve, Melanie and Eve's sister, Sarah, took part in an annual vigil at UHL along with others concerned about ongoing overcrowding pressures at the hospital.

“Christmas is difficult, but I find New Year’s Day harder, because we’re going into our seventh year now without Eve," Melanie said afterwards.

She was disappointed at the low turn-out at this year's vigil, but said: “It's something we will always do, no matter if nobody else shows up, we will go anyway. For me, it’s about Eve.” 

“It’s about Eve for me, and UHL is the last place where she was,” Ms Cleary said of the vigil.

This is the first vigil since health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill announced significant construction plans for UHL and the health services in the midwest region. 

Senator Joanne Collins, TDs Donna McGettigan and Maurice Quinlivan, with Inga Aammonsen and Melanie and Sarah Cleary at the vigil. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

It includes continued expansion of UHL and building an elective-only hospital nearby. There are also plans for a new hospital with an emergency department.

Ms Cleary is a member of the Midwest Hospital Campaign which has called for these changes and more.

“There are a lot of promises being thrown around, but there are no timelines yet, there’s nothing solid really,” she said.

"Are we going to get another hospital? It’s grand saying ‘we will implement all three recommendations’ [from Hiqa] but when?” 

However, despite her concerns, she wants to finish the year on a more optimistic note.

Eve is the whole reason this started for us, maybe next year there will be a bigger turnout or maybe next year we might have better news to talk about.

“I hope we get the dates [for the new hospitals], that’s the important thing.” 

Also in attendance at the vigil was Inga Ammonsen from Limerick City. 

Her son Daniel Connor-Ammonsen, who had diabetes, died a week before his 29th birthday in 2021 at UHL.

Inga Ammonsen's son, Daniel, died a week before his 29th birthday in 2021 at UHL. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

She shares Ms Cleary’s concerns, saying: “I want them to name out the places, decide which site they want and then start putting it into practice.

My son is dead nearly five years... and what has happened since then? I meet doctors in there, they are worn-out and the nurses that are there are probably worn-out as well.

She is very aware other families are grieving silently this holiday period for losses or trauma linked to the overcrowding pressures.

“When I hear about someone passing away, it brings it all back for me,” she said. 

“People say ‘what’s wrong with you’ but until you go through it or you know somebody who has gone through you, you can’t really understand.” 

The grieving families were joined by Sinn Fein politicians Maurice Quinlivan, Donna McGettigan and Joanne Collins.