Clare TD blames recruitment cap for UHL staffing and capacity pressures - Clare Echo

CLARE TD Donna McGettigan (SF) has blamed Government underinvestment and restrictions on recruitment for ongoing overcrowding and staffing pressures at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

Speaking during a Dáil debate on the legislation giving effect to the recent Budget, Ms McGettigan said the hospital was carrying out very few elective surgeries because of a lack of capacity and staff, despite serving a population of more than 400,000 people.

“In the Mid-West we have a hospital that has very few elective surgeries taking place. They do not have the capacity, they do not have the staffing, and this hospital serves more than 400,000 people,” she said.

She questioned why millions of euro were being spent on agency staff while newly qualified nurses and midwives were unable to secure contracts.

“The HSE in the Mid-West has not received any additional staff since June. The issue of overcrowding and capacity remains a significant concern for staff and patients,” she said.

She warned that trolley numbers were rising and that overcrowding was creating concerns for patient and staff safety as winter approaches.

The Clare TD called for the recruitment cap to be lifted and for greater investment in healthcare staffing. She also questioned why recommendations from a HIQA report, which she said had been presented more than a year ago, had not been implemented.

Ms McGettigan raised concerns about the absence of a sexual assault treatment unit in the Mid-West, claiming that staffing shortages had prevented its establishment.

She also said people in north and west Clare faced difficulties accessing emergency care because of the distance to their nearest emergency department.

“The people of north and west Clare are being put at risk because their nearest emergency department is too far from where they live,” she said.

She called on the Government to take action on healthcare capacity and staffing in the region, warning that further delays could put patients and healthcare workers at risk.

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