Public urged to 'consider all available care options' as 150 on trolleys at UHL
New record set at UHL following 'worst day for hospital overcrowding in any Irish hospital'
MEMBERS of the public are urged to consider alternative care options before presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) at UHL, following record breaking trolley numbers.
150 people are on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick this Wednesday, according to numbers released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.
This is the third time in 2024 that trolley numbers at UHL have broken records, with INMO Assistant Director of Industrial Relations for the Midwest and Western regions, Mary Fogarty, calling the situation "unacceptable and dangerous".
UL Hospitals Group (ULHG) have issued a statement in response to the situation, calling on the public to "consider all available care options before presenting to the ED, as University Hospital Limerick continues to experience very high levels of activity."
"The latest available national report shows that in the first three weeks of 2024, presentations to the ED at UHL increased by 28% on last year and emergency admissions by 17%," the statement read.
"This trend has continued in recent days with an average of 240 daily presentations over the past seven days, an increase on 219 daily presentations during 2023, our busiest year on record."
ULHG are urging the public to consider all care options, including their GPs, pharmacists and GP out of hours services before presenting at the UHL ED.
"We apologise to anyone who has had a long wait for admission to University Hospital Limerick in recent days," the statement read.
"We thank the public for their patience and support at this time of exceptionally high demand for our services."
Independent TD for Clare Violet Anne Wynne has called for "significant action to deescalate the situation" at UHL.
"The overcrowding crisis in UHL has now reached the level that even I never thought possible," she said in a statement.
"It’s hard to even comprehend let alone find words for. I am beyond ashamed of this situation and the Government that continues to allow it to happen.
"The long-term goal must be the reinstatement of the Accident and Emergency Dept at Ennis Hospital and anything less is simply unacceptable."