Overcrowding at UHL: Call for review of managerial practices

The Taoiseach has been requested to order a full review into the managerial practices of University Hospital Limerick. The Fianna Fáil TD for Tipperary, Jackie Cahill made this plea today following a number of concerns that were brought to his attention by frontline staff in the Regional Hospital.

Deputy Cahill highlighted record trolly numbers in the hospital last week and stated that the ongoing unfortunate situation of the hospital regularly making headline news is unacceptable given the level of investment in the hospital in recent years.

Speaking on this in the Dáil, Deputy Cahill said: “Taoiseach, unfortunately, University Hospital Limerick is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Last week, they set a record for the amount of people on trollies in that hospital.

“There has been a very significant amount of investment in the hospital, and unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have reaped the dividends you would expect.”

Deputy Cahill continued to state that he has been contacted by numerous frontline staff who are working in “intolerable conditions” in the hospital and who are “extremely worried about the treatment that patients are receiving, and the standards that are pertaining in the hospital due to the conditions in place there.”

In requesting a review of managerial practices in UHL, Cahill added: “Taoiseach, I strongly believe that you must order a full review into the managerial practices in University Hospital Limerick.

“Where is the accountability for these ongoing issues? How many senior management positions are there? There is growing concern in relation to the filling of those senior management positions, and that people who have taken up positions in the recent past in the hospital aren’t meeting the standard that you would require in a senior management position in the HSE.

“This hospital is under extreme pressure. There is serious concern and worry from people in the area about it.

“I would like a full review into what’s happening in UHL,” Deputy Cahill concluded.