Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of Limerick being top of the league in regard to patients on trolleys. This morning, there were 45 patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick. That is a relatively good result. Last week, the number was 76. It was last week that management in University Hospital Limerick announced it was closing another ward, containing 17 more beds. It beggars belief when the hospital consistently has the highest number of patients on trolleys in the country, day after day and week after week. What makes it even worse is that hospital management insists it has been inclusive in talking to staff about these matters. One can see from statements from the INMO and SIPTU that, far from being included, they have been disregarded. At a meeting on 9 January, it was confirmed to union officials that University Hospital Limerick had a deficit of 59 nurses, who would be required to reach the minimum nursing staff complement.

Since 9 January, things have got worse. My colleagues in the hospital have told me that, week after week, more nurses are resigning and voting with their feet because the conditions are absolutely intolerable in the hospital. The optimum capacity of the hospital is 85% but it is currently working at 110%. It is operating at a capacity of 110% although there was a shortfall of 59 nurses in January. The hospital believes the best idea is to close another ward. It is an absolute disgrace.

I have been raising the incompetence and poor management of University Hospital Limerick for well over a year here. I have asked for ministerial intervention and have written to the Minister, and I have received absolutely nothing in reply. My colleague, Deputy Maurice Quinlivan, always tells me how frustrated he is because when he puts parliamentary questions to the Minister, he does not even turn up to answer them. I call again for an urgent debate on this issue and ministerial intervention before matters get even worse in our local hospital in Limerick.