University Hospital Limerick chief executive goes on leave
Professor Colette Cowan, Chief Executive of the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, was working in the hospital as recently as this Tuesday. File photo: Liam Burke/Press 22
The chief executive of University Hospital Limerick Colette Cowan has gone on leave with an acting CEO being put in place.
It comes in the same week as overcrowding at the hospital hit a record high.
An email to senior staff at the hospital stated that Sonya Cotter, assistant national director of the HSE, will take up the position of acting CEO from next Wednesday.
The email sent on Thursday confirmed that the CEO has taken a "leave period" and outlined the arrangements being put in place while she is out.
It is understood that the correspondence did not detail a reason as to why Prof Cowan, who led the hospital group since 2014, is taking leave.
An HSE spokesperson said: "When a delegated official is on leave, there are always acting arrangements put in place to ensure there is authority to discharge functions and operate services at all times."
It is understood that Prof Cowan was working in the hospital as recently as this Tuesday.
Overcrowding left 150 patients on trolleys on Wednesday, the highest level since 2006. While this figure has reduced in recent days there were still 124 patients waiting for a bed yesterday morning according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's (INMO) Trolley Watch.
HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly this week held a lengthy meeting to discuss actions and possible changes required to address overcrowding and other issues at the hospital.
It is understood that rostering outside of normal hours and weekend discharges at the hospital are areas of concern that have been raised multiple times.
Mr Donnelly said there was "no standing over" this weeks' record trolley numbers adding that "we have invested more in University Hospital Limerick, in the time of this Government, than in any other hospital.”
Asked about issues at the hospital, Mr Donnelly said more than 1,000 extra staff have been put in place since 2020 with extra beds 192 also being rolled out.
He added: "The hospital with the second worst discharge rate in the country is Limerick, so we need to see serious change in Limerick."
The appointment of Sandra Broderick as regional executive officer for the Mid-West region was fast-tracked late last year to tackle problems at UHL and she has been working on the ground since December.
Referencing Ms Broderick, the Minister said: "She needs the entire hospital community stepping up and community healthcare organisations stepping up and helping, to make sure patients are treated – so they can go up to the wards, and when a patient is clinically ready to be discharged from the ward, they are discharged be that at 3pm on a Thursday or at 7pm on a Saturday."
Conor Reidy, a spokesman for the Midwest Hospital Campaign, said while they have called for resignations in the past, there are wider issues.
“There’s been a huge problem with management, but we certainly believe that management alone should not be scapegoated on this,” he said.
“There needs to be accountability and it goes way beyond management. It includes them but there’s ministers of health going back years as accountable for anyone, and also HSE administration as well.”
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