Number of patients of trolleys in UHL remains above 100 

Monday's total of 116 patients on trolleys in Limerick was more than 50 higher than the next worst-affected hospital, which was Cork University Hospital.

More than 600 people were left waiting on a hospital bed on Monday, with University Hospital Limerick (UHL) remaining the worst affected.

According to Trolley Watch figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), 607 people were on trolleys, with 116 of them being in UHL.

Overall, some 428 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 179 are in wards elsewhere in the hospital. Thirteen patients were aged 16 or under.

Last Wednesday, UHL  faced "the worst day for hospital overcrowding in any Irish hospital since the union began counting trolleys in 2006", when the INMO found there to be 150 patients awaiting a bed.

UHL saw the number fall to 120 on Thursday but it rose again on Friday to 124.

Monday's total of 116 patients on trolleys in Limerick was more than 50 higher than the next worst-affected hospital, which was Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The INMO's figures show 63 patients were waiting on a bed in CUH on Monday.

Last week, in response to its record overcrowding, UL Hospital Group said as UHL continues to experience "very high levels of activity", members of the public are being asked to consider "all available care options" before presenting to the ED.

"While we have seen a reduction nationally in the numbers of covid-19 and flu patients in hospital, there are still high levels of respiratory illness in circulation and affecting our hospitals. The latest available national report shows that in the first three weeks of 2024, presentations to the ED at UHL increased by 28% on last year and emergency admissions by 17%.

"This trend is more pronounced still among the over 75s with ED presentations having increased by 39% in the first three weeks of the year and emergency admissions by 34%."

Last week, the  Irish Examiner reported that UHL chief executive Colette Cowan has gone on leave, with an acting CEO being put in place.

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.