Sense of futility to accompany minister's visit to beleaguered UHL

Disturbing revelations around overcrowding and its tragic consequences has prompted another visit by a senior politician to University Hospital Limerick

While families and advocates welcome the heightened attention, a certain weariness can be detected as this is far from the first visit by senior politicians to University Hospital Limerick.

This week a Health Minister will again visit University Hospital Limerick (UHL) following disturbing revelations around overcrowding and its tragic consequences.

While families and advocates welcome the heightened attention, a certain weariness can be detected as this is far from the first visit by senior politicians to the beleaguered hospital.

In February 2023, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met the Midwest Hospital Campaign at a Limerick hotel.

Campaign volunteer Marie McMahon, whose husband died in 2018 at the overcrowded hospital, told the Irish Examiner afterwards she felt he listened to their concerns, but added: “At the end of the day, it is all about what is delivered.” 

Mr Varadkar also visited the emergency department.

In August 2019 then-Health Minister Simon Harris visited after the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) trolley figures for July showed 1,293 patients without a bed there.

Tragically, an inquest last week heard overcrowding continued that year.

Martin Abbott, aged 65, from Shannon died without dignity in December, his daughter Anne Marie Abbott said. He spent three days on a trolley, and was found face down on the floor. The court heard he may have been dead for up to an hour.

“Dad's death should not be in vain,” Anne Marie said and she called for his death be a catalyst for “meaningful change and improvements”.

A review also continues into the death of Aoife Johnston, 16, in December 2022.

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The incoming Taoiseach opened a revamped €24m ED at UHL in 2017, but INMO trolley data shows overcrowding continued.

Mary Fogarty, assistant director of industrial relations, described conditions as “unacceptable and dangerous for patients” just weeks ago.

Current Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has crossed the Shannon to UHL several times already. 

In June 2022 he asked the HSE to send a specialist support team following a sharply critical report by regulator Hiqa.

Meanwhile overcrowding consequences ripple across the region.

This time last year, colorectal surgeon and member of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, Dr Colin Peirce, said his operating list of 10 patients planned for a Tuesday at Nenagh Hospital was cancelled on the Monday afternoon.

He told the Irish Examiner: 

It’s a very dangerous cycle that we are in here.

Last month UL Hospitals Group again cancelled operations to save beds for emergencies.

Dr Mick Molloy, emergency medicine consultant on the Irish Medical Organisation’s consultant committee, said bed numbers speak for themselves. A 2008 report for the HSE recommended 642 beds for UHL but instead the hospital website shows 531 up to mid-March.

The bed situation develops into “a big competition” between patients, he warned.

Recent measures have included significant staff recruitment, a GP in the ED, and controversially re-purposing a Nenagh nursing home for overflow. Construction continues on a 96-bed block including new and replacement beds, with a second block planned.

Of course, if Mr Donnelly or HSE CEO Bernard Gloster, who will accompany him, did not visit UHL at a time of such strain, they would also be criticised.

However, families are surely entitled to ask what exactly will result from this week’s photo opportunities?