Health Committee calls for urgent implementation of measures at Limerick Hospital

The call came in the course of a visit by a delegation of the Committee on Monday (8 April) to the hospital.

The delegation, which was led by the Cathaoirleach of the Committee, Mr Seán Crowe, TD, met Mr Bernard Gloster (CEO of the HSE), Professor Collette Cowan (CEO at the hospital) and Ms Sandra Broderick (the new Regional Executive Officer for the Mid-West) along with a number of senior members of the executive and clinical team at the hospital.

The Joint Committee on Health has been concerned about the acute overcrowding, congestion and delayed delivery of services that have been an on-going feature of operations at the hospital and the mid-west region.

The Cathaoirleach said that while there has been sustained pressure on hospital services throughout the country, the difficulties in UHL and its region have been particularly severe and are leading to adverse impacts on patients in terms of the effectiveness and timeliness of health care services. He also stated that the pressures were generating a particularly difficult working environment for staff in all roles. Despite previous commitments from the HSE to address these acute challenges, they have continued.

Deputy Crowe stated that “the Committee welcomed the recent announcement of an up-dated package of measures in both UHL and the wider region that are now being put in place. However, the proof of the adequacy and effectiveness of these measures will be evident in the impact that they will have on the difficulties being faced by patients and staff. It is imperative that no effort is spared – both in the region and centrally – to ensure that these measures are completed speedily to deliver the necessary improvement in services. The Committee will continue to monitor the progress of these measures and will be seeking regular updates in this regard”.

The Committee delegation – which consisted of Deputies Colm Burke, David Cullinane, Bernard Durkan and Cathal Crowe, as well as Senator Martin Conway, engaged earlier with a delegation from the main trade unions in the hospital to hear of their perspective on the challenges in the hospital and the region.