Clare Fm - Podcasts

A Clare Government Senator is calling for a third new 96-bed block to be approved and delivered at University Hospital Limerick in order to tackle legacy capacity issues. It comes as the third HIQA Report in a row, published this week found patient privacy and dignity continues to be impacted by overcrowding. On it's latest unannounced visit the Health Inspection and Quality Authority found the level of overcrowding at Dooradoyle's Emergency Department was not consistent with a human-rights based approach to care. According to HIQA, University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department has planned capacity for only 49 service users, but last year an average of 219 patients atended the ED every single day. Despite this, a Clare member of the Oireachtas Health Committee claims reopening a 24/7 Accident Emergency Department in Ennis goes against the wishes of the INMO and the Irish Medical Organisation. There are currently two-new 96 bed blocks planned for UHL which promise to increase bed capacity by 167 in