UHL Medical Board Urges Government to Increase Emergency Bed Capacity

The Medical Board of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has issued a strong call for increased funding and resources to address the pressing need for emergency hospital beds in the Mid West region. The Board contends that even with the announcement of an additional 224 new patient beds, the current demand will still exceed capacity, resulting in continued overcrowding.

In a statement released this week, under the leadership of Chair Professor Colin Peirce and Deputy Chair Dr. Joe Devlin, the Board highlighted findings from a recent report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). It indicated that the Mid West will face a critical shortage of in-hospital treatment capacity. The report warns that the region will have more patients requiring urgent care than available beds, even with the planned expansion.

“Immediate delivery of all 224 of these beds would be expected to align UHL’s capacity with other Model 4 hospitals relative to demand,” the statement noted. Despite this, the timeline for the completion of 96 of these beds is now projected for 2029, by which time the demand for acute capacity is expected to rise due to demographic changes.

The Board pointed out that the Mid West currently has the lowest ratio of inpatient beds to emergency department (ED) attendees among Model 4 hospitals. Furthermore, it has the highest number of ED visits, contributing to a significant demand-capacity deficit that existing investments will only partially alleviate. They also emphasized that the current plans do not include any Model 3 beds, further exacerbating the situation.

The statement also criticized the government’s approach, noting that while there are 17 Model 3 hospitals in other health regions, the Mid West lacks any such facilities. “The government must urgently change its direction regarding this critical issue,” the Board declared.

In a show of support for healthcare staff, the Board expressed solidarity with both patients and employees at UHL. They emphasized that staff should not be held accountable for systemic inadequacies while delivering care amid overcrowding. They referenced the HIQA report, which cites the Frank Clarke Report of 2024, highlighting safety risks associated with overcrowding and the use of overflow areas.

The HIQA report revealed that patients attending the ED at UHL are generally sicker than those at other facilities nationwide, with no evidence of inappropriate admissions. The Medical Board stressed the need for immediate action to mitigate risks to patient safety, calling for expedited processes to enhance bed capacity at UHL.

“The report has a clear message – patient safety is being compromised,” they asserted. The Board expressed a willingness to collaborate with the Department of Health to rectify the deficiencies identified in the HIQA report and is seeking a response from the Minister for Health regarding the implementation of the report’s recommendations.

In response, the Department of Health reaffirmed its commitment to improving services in the Mid West. A statement indicated that the government’s Programme for Government includes plans to increase capacity and open more beds at UHL and across the region. Since December 2024, two 16-bed blocks have been added at UHL, contributing to a total of 236 beds since 2020. Planning permission for an additional 96-bed ward block has been granted, with enabling works already underway. A third 16-bed ward is also scheduled for progression in 2026.

As the healthcare system grapples with increasing demand, the UHL Medical Board’s call for urgent reforms highlights the need for immediate action to ensure equitable access to emergency healthcare for all families in Ireland.