Flash protest takes place in reception of University Hospital Limerick

Three people had been waiting over 24 hours up to 8am on Saturday, including one person aged over 75.

University Hospital Limerick

A small flash protest has been held in the reception of University Hospital Limerick to highlight ongoing overcrowding concerns.

HSE figures showed 43 patients were on trolleys at UHL yesterday, with another 13 people on temporary surge beds in other parts of the hospital. 

Of these, three people had been waiting over 24 hours up to 8am, including one person aged over 75.

A protest was organised at the hospital on Saturday by campaigner Mike Daly, who has previously helped to organise large protests in the city and outside the hospital against overcrowding.

“We did this so management knows that we are not going away,” he said afterward.

Mike Daly (left) in protest at overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick on Saturday afternoon

“We informed management we plan on many more flash protests on random days inside the hospital until they do something to alleviate the overcrowding that is needlessly killing people.” 

He said. in his view, adding more doctors, nurses, or beds to UHL will not address the problem fully, and he called on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to do more.

“This isn't about staffing or facilities; it's a basic mathematical issue,” he said.

UHL operates the only emergency department (ED) in the mid-west region, providing emergency care to Limerick, Clare, and North Tipperary.

Mr Daly said one ED cannot handle patient numbers for an estimated population of 420,000, saying this is leading to chronic overcrowding.

“We stand inside the hospital, urging Stephen Donnelly to recognise this very simple math issue and take immediate action to reopen at least one more A&E, fully equipped to handle all emergencies,” he said.

Mr Daly supports calls by the separate Midwest Hospital Campaign to re-open smaller emergency departments at hospitals in Ennis, Nenagh, and at St John’s in Limerick.

“On Thursday, April 25th, we are taking this issue to the gates of the Dail,” he added.

He and three others took part in the protest on Saturday.

He said Gardaí attended at the start of the protest. He understands they were called by the hospital to assess the situation but they did not ask him to leave.

A Garda spokesperson said they could not find "such a reported incident on our PULSE system in relation to this."

Separately, the Midwest Hospital Campaign announced a plan for a convoy of protesters from Limerick, Clare, and Tipperary to drive together and highlight concerns on April 13.

The group has called for people living in the three counties to unite and send a clear message to the HSE, Stephen Donnelly, and all political parties.

“We are not and will not be treated as second-class citizens when it comes to emergency care in our health service,” the campaigners said.