Hospitals across Cork and Kerry record 10% rise in patients attending emergency departments

University Hospital Limerick, the only hospital with an emergency department in the Mid-West, recorded an 8% increase in attendances, the second-highest rise across the country. Picture: Dan Linehan

Hospitals in HSE South-West, which covers Cork and Kerry, saw the largest increase in emergency department attendances in the country, with patient numbers up 10% on last year.

The hospitals saw an 88% rise in the number of days temporary surge beds were needed to manage demand for patients in crisis.

The region was also running 5.6% over budget by the end of August, according to a HSE Cost and Productivity Oversight Group report.

University Hospital Limerick, the only hospital with an emergency department in the Mid-West, recorded an 8% increase in attendances, the second-highest rise across the country.

UHL also saw an 11% jump in the number of days it needed temporary surge beds. 

The Mid-West region was 3.5% over budget by the end of August.

In Dublin South-East, emergency departments saw a 6.3% jump in patients, while use of temporary surge beds increased by 50%. 

The region was 5.1% over budget.

Nationally, the largest budget overspend was recorded in Dublin and Midlands at 5.7%. Excluding Children's Health Ireland, the figure for the region's hospitals was 4.6%.

The October report repeats warnings the drop in HSE income linked to the removal of private work from public hospitals has “significantly exceeded budget expectations”.

As of October 2, about 70% of Ireland's 5,099 consultants were employed on new public-only contracts.

The latest figures showed a €99m shortfall by August — a 44% deficit against budget projections.

Nationally, the overspend on non-pay items was at 4.6% by August. These costs include items such as medical aids and appliances, management consultancy fees, and scans in private centres.

Pay expenditure across all HSE hospitals, including community and CHI hospitals, was 2% over budget.