HIQA review over Limerick hospital crisis

The Health Information and Quality Authority is to review information provided by a Nenagh councillor over ongoing overcrowding problems at the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick.

Cllr Séamus Morris (Ind) drew the authority's attention to a letter from Limerick's Chief Fire Officer, who raised “serious concern” over the number of patient-occupied trolleys in the Emergency Department. This followed a fire service inspection last March when 38 patients were found waiting on trolleys. The number set out in the fire safety notice is 29.
In his letter to the CEO of UHL, Chief Fire Officer Michael Ryan said the fire authority may have to “consider taking such enforcement action it considers necessary in the protection of life and property”.
The Limerick emergency department, which serves the north Tipperary catchment area, regularly topped national overcrowding lists in 2019.  
“We will review the information you have provided and take appropriate regulatory action should the information received indicate that a service provider may not be complying with regulations and National Standards,” HIQA stated in correspondence with Cllr Morris.
“Information brought to the attention of HIQA may result in an inspection or other regulatory actions taking place. In some situations the information received does not fall within the powers of HIQA but indicates a risk to the users of the service. In this situation, we may refer the information to another body such as another State regulator, the Garda Síochána or the Child and Family Agency.”
As a politician serving the people of north Tipperary, Cllr Morris said he is “deeply concerned with the constant overcrowding of the ED at University Hospital Limerick.
“The hospital is now breaching its own safety protocols more often than not, so much so that the Fire Chief in Limerick is considering legal action,” he said. “The hospital management are not able to bring the situation under control, no matter how hard they try, as University Hospital Limerick cannot now or ever cope with the population in the Mid West.
“I am asking HIQA to step in and inspect the situation, which now sees people avoiding going to hospital no matter how ill they are. The situation is also a serious health and safety issue for the workers, patients and visitors using the ED.
“There, of course, are concerns for data protection with patients' files on display on corridors. The decision to reconfigure 24-hour accident and emergency services to UHL must be reconsidered as part of your report. This is an appeal for the safety of my constituents who use and work in UHL,” Cllr Morris told HIQA.