HEALTH Minister Simon Harris has come under fire for not being in the Dáil chamber to answer questions about hospital overcrowding on a day when there were 60 people waiting for a bed in the University Hospital Limerick.
Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan this week again raised the overcrowding situation in UHL in the Dail but said that the MInister “failed to turn up to answer questions himself, despite the situation in UHL being so serious.
Speaking in the Dáil, the Limerick City TD said, “I want to express my deep disappointment that Minister Harris is not here tonight to answer questions on the situation in UHL, as this is not the first time he has failed to turn up to answer questions about University Hospital Limerick.
“Today there are 60 patients on trolleys in UHL, with 668 people nationally, meaning almost 10 per cent of all patients on trolleys are in one hospital in Limerick. This is totally unacceptable.
“This is not new. The hospital consistently has the highest number of people on trolleys across the state. It was the most overcrowded hospital in the state last year, with 8,869 patients on trolleys over the year.
“My constituents are entitled to excellent facilities, that are not chronically overcrowded, the same as all other areas, but unfortunately it seems they are at the bottom of Fine Gael’s priority list”.
He added that he had recently learned that the number waiting for outpatient appointments in UHL has increased by a massive 6,786 people in just one year.
“In just one year, the number of people waiting on outpatient appointments has increased by 6,786 – bringing the total number now waiting on outpatient appointments to 32,623.
“An increase of 26 per cent in just one year is totally unacceptable.
“The number of patients being forced to wait in excess of 18 months for treatment has more than doubled in one year, rising from 1,517 to 4,124.
“In just one year, the number of people waiting on outpatient appointments has increased by 6,786 – bringing the total number now waiting on outpatient appointments to 32,623.
“An increase of 26% in just one year is totally unacceptable, and provides no comfort to citizens of Limerick that Fine Gael is addressing the crisis in our health system.
“The number of patients being forced to wait in excess of 18 months for treatment has more than doubled in one year, rising from 1,517 to 4,124.
Responding to the waiting lists incrreases, a spokeswoman for the hospital said, “All patients who are waiting are prioritised according to clinical need. Beyond this, UL Hospitals Group will continue to focus on seeing and treating those who have been waiting the longest.
“Among the reasons for the increase is the significant growth in demand; an increase in the number of urgent referrals in some specialties and a shortage of consultants in other specialties. In 2018, a particular focus will be placed on the validation of outpatient waiting lists by UL Hospitals Group in line with national plans to tackle wait times for patients. As part of the validation process, hospitals will be contacting all patients waiting over 6 months to see if they wish to remain on the waiting list.
“In 2016 almost half a million (479,000) outpatients did not attend their outpatient appointment. In order to help patients access timely appointments, the HSE is asking patients to let their hospital know as soon as possible if they cannot attend scheduled appointments so that other patients may be offered appointments.
“The numbers of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure at Ennis and University Hospital Limerick reduced in 2017 following a national campaign to reduce inpatient waiting lists. This was achieved through a number of separate initiatives including increased theatre and endoscopy sessions, outsourcing and a validation exercise for all patients waiting greater than 6 months. In 2017, Ennis Hospital achieved all its national waiting list targets.
