065 671 9021
clareecho.ie
FEB 10 2022
CLARE’S HART’ BREAKERS HIQA investigate
UHL trolley crisis
by RONAN JUDGE
T l St Joseph’s Tulla celebrate winning the Harty Cup on Saturday. Full report on page 34-35
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
HE health information and quality authority (HIQA) is to carry out safety inspections at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The move comes amid record levels of overcrowding at the hospital. Minister of State at the Department of Health, Mary Butler, yesterday told the Dáil that HIQA is closely monitoring overcrowding at a number of hospitals including Limerick. “HIQA has also written to HSE senior management to highlight its intention to initiate inspections under the national standards for safer and better healthcare,” Deputy Butler said.
Deputy Butler said HIQA had “recent correspondence with the hospital group CEO regarding its evaluation of the current factors influencing crowding in the emergency department”. Independent TD, Michael McNamara has called for the correspondence to be published in full. Deputy McNamara also called on the Government to confirm if an independent review, separate to HIQA’s review, would be carried out after the Taoiseach confirmed to him last month that such a review would be considered. The Clare TD said in recent weeks overcrowding in UHL had reached record levels.
FULL STORY pg 6