Limerick city TD, Maurice Quinlivan has questioned the Minister for Health about concerns raised by nurses in relation to the new Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick.
Speaking in Leinster House, Deputy Quinlivan said: “Nurses working in UHL have raised some serious issues in relation to the new facility. The INMO (Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation) highlight that according to HSE management, a minimum of 24 patients will be placed on trolleys and recliner chairs in the new Emergency Department.
“The use of trolleys in emergency departments is unacceptable. We need to be moving away from this means of operation and not embedding them into new plans. It is unacceptable that HSE management in the hospital intend to transfer the existing trolley problem to the new ED, rather than use it as an opportunity to finally solve the problem.
“Also the INMO have suggested to management that space which is freed up in the old Emergency Department could be used to accommodate patients. This would lead to less overcrowding and increased patient safety and well-being. This suggestion has been rejected by management.
“Other concerns raised by nurses working in the hospital include the issue of not enough staff being assigned to the new ED and a lack of staff with an ED specialist qualification,” Deputy Quinlivan concluded.
