Tipperary TD Michael Lowry says he expects that University Hospital Limerick will continue to suffer overcrowding for at least a year. The TD described the situation at the hospital as appalling and says the overcrowding is having a knock on effect on Day Surgeries at Nenagh Hospital.
Management at the hospital confirmed yesterday that an initial internal review into the circumstances of the death of a 16 year old girl in the Emergency Department on January 29th has been completed. The young girl attended the hospital on January 29th with breathing difficulties – she had been discharged earlier in the month. The Emergency Department and the Resuscitation area were overcrowded the day that the 16 year old died. In a statement to the Irish Independent, UHL Hospital Group offered its “sincere condolences” to the family on “their devastating loss”.
Speaking on TMWR Deputy Lowry says the hospital is bordering on being extremely dangerous and says paramedics regularly reveal that patients don’t want to go to the ED in UHL.
Deputy Lowry welcomed the recent changes in senior management with a new CEO at the hospital – Sonya Cotter and a new Regional Executive Officer for the HSE Mid West – Sandra Broderick .
Deputy Lowry says politicians will support Ms Broderick’s call for additional funding to keep all existing beds at the hospital in operation by modifying older nightingale wards when a new 96 bed block of ensuite rooms comes into operation – these rooms are currently under construction and a further 96 bed block is also approved by the Government.
