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'Significant' demand for beds at Limerick Hospital from people who had Covid, but still need to recover

The hospital group responded to calls from the INMO for a Hiqa investigation into overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick

THE UL HOSPITALS Group, which manages six hospitals in the mid-west region, has said that the “extraordinary demand” for services at University Hospital Limerick, are unlike any other experienced before in the mid-west.

In a lengthy statement to The Journal, the hospital group said that overcrowding at Limerick Hospital was “multi-factorial”, and explained some of those factors.

It emerged last night that the hospital group had urged the public to consider all care options before attending the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), as it was managing an “unprecedented level” of patient presentations.

Today, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) called for an investigation by the health watchdog Hiqa into overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick.

“UHL has been the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland every day this year. It had the highest overall number of patients waiting for care without beds in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020,” it said, asking why despite additional recruitment and over 100 extra beds, it still faced “runaway overcrowding”.

“52 patients were on trolleys in UHL this morning, more than treble the number in any other hospital in the state,” the INMO said.

The hospital’s response to the INMO

In response to this statement, the UL hospital group apologised that despite the extra beds opened at UHL over the past eight months, “many admitted patients have been experiencing long waits for beds”. 

“This is not the kind of care we wish to provide, and we apologise to any patient who has experienced a long wait for a bed.”

It also said that during peak hospital demand before the pandemic, the hospital would have “up to 25 patients on trolleys in wards in the hospital… This is no longer the case”. 

The hospital group said it “noted” the INMO’s concerns about the situation, and the Group’s Chief Clinical Director and the Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery have met with representatives of the INMO this week to discuss overcrowding.

During the past year, there has been an increase in Covid-19 patients, especially during the three periods of peak transmission. And currently, there remains significant demand for beds from people who have been de-listed as Covid-positive, but who continue to make their recovery from the disease.

“On Thursday 22 April, for example, the total number of inpatients in UHL who were either query-Covid, Covid-positive, post-Covid, or long-Covid, exceeded 40.”

Non-Covid care

It added that Covid-19 patients accounts for only one aspect “in the multi-faceted demand” for services at UHL.

“Also during the past year, there has been an increase in serious non-Covid illnesses that have been complicated due to delays in seeking treatment during lockdowns, and which require longer recovery times.

In short, people are getting sicker with more complicated conditions, and patients need to spend longer in hospital to recover from their illnesses.

It said that there is “a cumulative increase” in the length people stay in the hospital over the past few years, and that they are also experiencing “record levels of presentations”.

“In the 24 hours between 8am Monday and 8am Tuesday, 241 people attended our Emergency Department. The following three 24-hour patients brought attendances of 283, 243, and 214. Daily emergency presentations at the hospital in excess of 200 are now the norm. The average daily attendance figure for 2019, the last full year pre-pandemic, was 197.” 

UL Hospitals Group gave reassurances that all patients are receiving expert medical care while they wait, that social distancing measures are adhered to stringently, and that wait times are kept to a minimum.

“The phenomenon of hospital crowding is multi-factorial, and will not be solved by increasing bed capacity alone,” it said, adding that it was grateful for the increase in beds.

This single-room accommodation has provided our patients with the comfort they deserve, and allowed us to better manage infection risk in the hospital, not least during the considerably challenging third wave of Covid-19 in January 2021.
This in no way minimises the upset that people feel when they experience a lengthy wait for a hospital bed, and we apologise to those people, and their families, who have been inconvenienced at this time.

“We reiterate our appeal on the public in the region to present at the ED only in the event of an emergency or a serious illness, and first consider all the alternative care options available ot them, including family doctors, out-of-hours GP services, local pharmacies and the Injury Units at St John’s, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals, which are an excellent option for treatment of broken bones, dislocations, sprains, strains, wounds, scalds and minor burns.

“Those units are open at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals (8am-8pm daily), and St John’s Hospital (8am-7pm, Monday to Friday).

“If you do have symptoms of Covid-19, it is important that you do not go to the Emergency Department or your GP. Ring them in advance for advice, and avoid contact with other people by self-isolating. In a medical emergency if you have severe symptoms, call 112 or 999. If you are seriously injured or ill or are worried your life is at risk, the ED will assess and treat you as a priority.”

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22 Comments
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    Mute ...
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:12 PM

    Go on home to your sexy wives !

    178
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    Mute Yeah Ok
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:13 PM

    If the Swedish government need someone to go over to Sweden and have lots of sex with lots of sexy blonde Swedish women I’m game. Willing to do my bit to help the world.

    151
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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:06 PM

    I think Sweden might just have bigger fish to fry than Coitus right now…and for many years to come….

    121
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    Mute Sue
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:10 PM

    There is probably a lack of consensual sex going on in fairness.
    But at least society isn’t too white anymore! Yucky Caucasians!

    97
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:17 PM

    It’s funny I spend half the year surrounded by Approx 1,500 Swedes and none of them seem to think they have the issues you regularly highlight! Maybe living there they know something you don’t

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    Mute Beachmaster
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:05 PM
    40
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    Mute Roly Burkinshaw
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    Jul 29th 2016, 7:11 PM

    Plenty of sex going on …if being held down in an ally and gang raped by 6 Muslims counts ??

    37
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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:41 PM

    We’re to busy having our coffee breaks (Fika) and judge people who earn more than us. And wish someone else would do something about it.

    6
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    Mute sean byrne
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:08 PM

    No sex please, we’re multicultural.

    100
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:51 AM

    Multiculchies you mean?

    1
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    Mute Methodical Insanity
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:46 PM

    Might have something to do with the fact that they’ve spent decades demonising traditionally “masculine” behaviour and possibly even broken the native Swedish men to the point were they’re probably afraid they might be considered a sex offender for daring to so much as even flirt with a woman. Meanwhile, they’ve imported an actual real life rape culture, let it run wild and free, and done everything in their power is done to cover this up. There seems to be plenty of sex happening in Sweden. It just isn’t consensual and Swedish men aren’t usually getting any.

    87
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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:42 PM

    Call me feminine again, and I swear I will hit you with my handbag. Behave.

    19
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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:16 PM

    If you’re talking about sex then you’re not getting any.

    80
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    Mute Tommy Gunn
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:27 PM

    The imported enrichers are having loads of “sex”with local Swedish women

    62
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    Mute Dave Smith
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:57 PM

    Sweden has broken their men , they are ladyboys now compared to their Viking heritage. Maybe their women are hoping to get some action from the new invaders?

    61
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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:09 PM

    So, does the Swedish government want to encourage its citizens to have more sex? if so, I wonder how they’ll go about that.

    55
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    Mute Gerry with a J
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:39 PM

    I’d imagine they’ll just do what our government do to us and f*(k them when they’re least expecting it.

    79
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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:40 PM

    Tax incentives.

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:48 AM

    No, it will be an excuse to add more migrants to their population?

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:22 PM

    Swedish Blondes having less sex!!! I think the country needs more Psychiatrists for the male population.

    44
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    Mute Matthew Whelan
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:37 PM

    There just worried if they’ll be a minority in 40 years to come!

    44
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    Mute Cillian McCormick
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:13 PM

    But their wives are so sexy.

    43
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    Mute Les McQueen
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    Jul 29th 2016, 4:43 PM

    Until they become your wife….

    58
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    Mute Aidan Holland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:57 PM

    I actually find this incredibly sad men in Sweden now are probably afraid to talk to woman due to the radical feminist movement in that country. The one bright spot is there a new kind of men in Sweden now and believe me girls they wont take no for an answer

    39
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    Mute John Ward
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:50 PM

    Swedes eh? Well, that’s a turnip for the book!

    28
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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:43 PM

    Radish-ing news, isn’t it? :o

    11
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:47 AM

    I’m thinking of melons now after that…

    1
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    Mute Dan Wikström
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    Jul 29th 2016, 10:37 PM

    Swede here! I’m not sure this article is entirely true. I have sex constantly.
    I wish I wasn’t alone when i do, though. :/

    27
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    Mute Jack Bowden
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    Jul 29th 2016, 6:15 PM

    I’m no sociologist but I think when electricity becomes available in a country the birth rate plummets 20 to 30 years later. Education and contraception are the main reasons but people sitting around watching television and on computers instead of having sex doesn’t help.

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:33 PM

    Tyrn off the Red Light probably has something to do with it.
    And feminists.

    21
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    Mute Patrick Gough
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    Jul 29th 2016, 5:41 PM

    If it’s a jailable offence to have paid for sex I’m not surprised nobody is taking a chance

    15
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:44 AM

    Plenty are still doing it here…

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    Mute Garreth Byrne
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    Jul 29th 2016, 7:25 PM

    In some countries of Western Europe there is too much sex and not enough babies born to maintain the population level. Some societies aren’t reproducing themselves and depend on continued immigration to keep the economy functioning. The Swedish Government should be taking a hard look at the birth rate.

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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 29th 2016, 9:21 PM

    Or bring in millions of migrants.

    9
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    Mute Frank's Cat
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    Jul 30th 2016, 12:10 AM

    *Rolls up sleeves* Time to help our Swedish cousins…

    11
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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:50 AM

    Sex with cousins, yikes…

    1
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    Mute Austin Rock
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    Jul 29th 2016, 9:20 PM

    probably will end up lowering the age of consent to 5

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    Mute Joey_Westland
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:52 PM
    4
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    Mute Sean Walsh
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    Jul 29th 2016, 11:35 PM

    Down with that sort of thing

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:52 AM

    They can’t see what they are doing in the winter, then there is the cold and in the summer they can’t do it in sunlight?

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    Mute Alois Irlmaier
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    Jul 31st 2016, 3:44 AM

    50 shades of Sweden?

    1
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