Nurses call for UHL reforms to include improvements to services in its catchment area

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation counted 86 people waiting for a hospital bed after being admitted to UHL on Monday among 510 nationally

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha warned trolley counts are already showing signs of winter overcrowding.

Nurses have called for the reform of University Hospital Limerick to include better services across its catchment area as well as internal changes.

The call from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) follows publication of two reports into the busy hospital on Friday, both of which recommended extensive changes.

One — by an external team under Grace Rothwell of the HSE — recommended a review of scan and diagnostic services across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. This should include private clinics to find out if every chance to deliver scans away from the hospital is being used.

Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha warned trolley counts are already showing signs of winter overcrowding.

The union counted 86 people waiting for a hospital bed after being admitted to UHL on Monday among 510 nationally.

HSE data also showed 51 patients on trolleys and 35 on surge beds at UHL. The latter are temporarily given to emergency patients until a bed on a ward is available.

“The most effective way to minimise overcrowding is to adhere to the agreed de-escalation policy before the situation becomes unmanageable,” she said referring to policies on cutting overcrowding.

“This can only be done with sufficient, appropriate in-patient capacity and adequately staffed community services to which patients can be discharged.” 

She called for more beds along with recruitment for “safe levels of nurses and doctors”.

Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke’s report found UHL has a higher number of presentations to the ED than similarly-sized hospitals. File picture: Brendan Gleeson

Overcrowding also featured in former Chief Justice Frank Clarke’s report on the death of Aoife Johnston. He found UHL has a higher number of presentations to the ED than similarly-sized hospitals.

Access to scans outside the hospital is one potential contributory factor, he indicated. However, he heard evidence that having a GP triage nurse in the ED showed little impact with only about 10 patients daily diverted to GP care.

He noted bed increases recommended in 2008 have not been acted on yet. 

Meanwhile, advocacy group Friends of Ennis Hospital said Mr Clarke’s report was “harrowing”. It said the young woman was failed by “systems that are not fit for purpose” and criticised hospital management for not acting sooner on these gaps.