Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
33. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on the significant levels of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick; what surge capacity measures have been taken in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1838/24]
View answerThe Emergency Department at UHL continues to manage high volumes of patients attending and like many EDs around the country is currently seeing a surge in patients with respiratory conditions. In 2023 the ED had 80,000 presentations,12% more than 2019.
Significant additional investment has been provided to University Hospital Limerick in recent years, including the opening of 150 additional beds in the UL Hospital Group since 1st Jan 2020 - 98 of these beds have been in UHL.
Over the past year the hospital has increased ED staffing and enhanced alternative care pathways to reduce demand on the ED and better facilitate patient flow. The Geriatric Emergency Medicine unit recently expanded to 24-hour operations during weekdays. Recruitment is complete following the Safer Staffing review that saw approval granted for 21.5WTE additional ED staff nurses. In the past year, an additional two consultants in emergency medicine have been recruited for the ED.
The UEC Operational Plan contains measures to support the health system during the period of peak seasonal demand. There is ring-fenced funding to support specific named measures to provide additional capacity during the period of surge associated with exceptionally high level of respiratory illness. Funding and pathways are in place to facilitate hospital and CHOs to access additional hospital and community bed capacity in the private sector to facilitate optimum patient flow and to avoid congestion.
