Report on possible second hospital emergency department for Limerick to be published next year

Hiqa said while other hospitals also experience overcrowding, the scale of what happens in UHL has 'consistently been greater' than anywhere else.

University Hospital Limerick has routinely experienced the second highest number of presentations to the ED per annum compared to other hospitals.

The final report from Hiqa into whether a second hospital emergency department is needed for the Limerick region won't be published for a year, the health watchdog has said.

Terms of reference for the review were published on Wednesday afternoon, and it says an interim report will be given to the health minister six months after it begins.