The ongoing capacity crisis at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has reached another critical point, with over 100 patients reportedly waiting for beds. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) confirmed the staggering figure, highlighting that UHL continues to face unrelenting pressures in managing patient care.
Emergency departments at UHL have been overwhelmed, with the hospital consistently recording some of the highest levels of overcrowding nationwide. Patients are enduring long waiting times in often uncomfortable conditions, as staff struggle to balance care demands with available resources.
Healthcare professionals have voiced growing concerns about the impact of these delays on patient outcomes and staff well-being. “The current situation is unsustainable,” said an INMO spokesperson. “We urgently need government intervention to address these capacity issues and ensure patients are treated with dignity and care.”
Hospital management has acknowledged the strain on their services, citing an unprecedented increase in patient admissions as the primary cause. In a statement, UHL emphasized ongoing efforts to discharge patients who are medically fit to leave and to expedite the flow of care.
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Local representatives and advocacy groups are calling for immediate action, urging the Health Service Executive (HSE) to increase investment in additional beds and healthcare staff. Many are also advocating for a long-term plan to address chronic overcrowding, a persistent issue at UHL.
As the crisis continues, patients and their families are left grappling with uncertainty. For many, the question remains: when will meaningful changes be implemented to alleviate the pressure on University Hospital Limerick?
