McGrath promises measures to address 'unacceptable' overcrowding at UHL 

Finance Minister told Dáil additional measures will be put in place to address the issue

On Wednesday, UHL recorded 150 people on trolley across both the emergency department and the hospital’s general wards. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

Record overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick is “not acceptable to the Government” and measures will be put in place to address the issue, Finance Minister Michael McGrath has told the Dáil.

On Wednesday, UHL recorded 150 people on trolleys across both the emergency department and the hospital’s general wards.

Trolley numbers at UHL have now topped 100 on a daily basis for more than a fortnight.

Mr McGrath told the Dáil Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had been in contact with HSE chief Bernard Gloster with a view to putting in place additional measures to address the issue.

"When I look at the numbers I see that this hospital alone got an extra 1,000 staff over the last five years and a significant increase in bed capacity, with more being built. 

"That kind of number, however, and that experience for each individual who was on a trolley there is not acceptable to the minister or to the Government," Mr McGrath said.

He added the UHL hospital group and the hospital itself have made progress on reducing waiting lists for certain procedures, which should be acknowledged.

I thank the staff for all of the work they do but the situation in the emergency department there is not acceptable to the Government.

Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty hit out at the Government's "disastrous mismanagement" of the health service, which he said "hit a new low this week" in UHL.

Mr Doherty said hospitals were short 1,000 beds and needed 500 more each year to keep pace with demand. 

He told the Dáil officials in the Department of Health and the HSE have identified sites and suppliers for these 1,500 beds but the Government "has its head in the sand and will not fund them".

Call for hospitals to reopen

Meanwhile, the Pensions Committee discussed on Thursday a petition from the Mid-West Hospital Campaign group for the emergency departments at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s (Limerick City) Hospitals to be reopened in order to alleviate the trolley crisis.

All three emergency departments have been closed since 2009 on foot of a Government decision taken at the time, with the campaign group claiming there is one extra death for every 82 patients left on a trolley for between six and eight hours from the time of arrival at a hospital.

Mr Donnelly declined to appear at the committee to hear the petition, a fact criticised by those assembled, including Sinn Féin TDs Pat Buckley and Maurice Quinlivan, who represents Limerick City.

Mr Quinlivan described the minister’s non-appearance as “totally disrespectful” and speculated the reason was because the minister “either has no solution or it’s because he just doesn’t care”.

Mr Quinlivan said it was vital Mr Donnelly does make an appearance in order to explain why the people currently on trollies at UHL “aren’t a political priority”.

Clare TD Michael McNamara, meanwhile, said it was likewise “completely unacceptable” that the management of UHL have not appeared at committee to explain the record overcrowding.