Mid-West breaking point: What will it take for the State to fix hospital care in Limerick?

Doctors, nurses and campaigners urge the Government to treat Hiqa’s warning on Mid-West hospital capacity as a national emergency requiring long-term investment

Some of the patient overcrowding at the Emergency Department and surrounding corridors at University Hospital Limerick in September. Pictures: David Raleigh

Urgency and long-term thinking are needed to ensure the Hiqa review of care in the Mid-West really does solve its “capacity emergency”, people on the ground have urged.

A month has now passed since the health watchdog warned of immediate patient risk caused by bed shortages and overcrowding.