Warnings of overcrowding crisis in A&Es went unheeded says Tipperary TD

Images of chronic overcrowding in A&E’s that have flashed daily across our TV screens throughout Christmas and over the early days of 2023 cannot have come as a major surprise to the HSE, the Minister or the Department of Health as warnings have been issued for months, says Deputy Michael Lowry.

Speaking as reports are circulating that Ambulance Services have been informed that from 8a.m. on Monday next, 112/999 patients can be taken directly to the Medical Assessment Unit in Ennis Hospital if the patient meets the agreed clinical criteria, Deputy Lowy says that this is a clear indication that removing A&E services at Nenagh, Ennis and St. John’s in Limerick in 2009 was a mistake.

He says that enhanced services in these hospitals are quite clearly required to meet the needs of the 400,000-strong population in this region and they should be restored.

While acknowledging that the full extent of the Christmas and New Year A&E crisis has exceeded the worst fears, Deputy Lowry says that they had been numerous warnings that demands on hospitals over the winter months would likely surpass anything seen in the past and that an Advance Plan was crucial to meet the inevitable needs of seriously ill patients.

‘We were all made aware in late 2022 that a ‘Twindemic’ of Covid and flu would strike this winter. This unfortunately became a Tridemic when RSV was identified as a third dangerous respiratory illness to strike this year, placing even greater demands on our struggling hospitals and healthcare staff.

‘The crisis we are now witnessing is both worrying and heartbreaking, but it cannot be considered a shock or a surprise. The warnings were sounded well in advance. We could have been better prepared’ says Deputy Lowry.

‘It comes as no surprise that University Hospital Limerick has topped the list of overcrowded Emergency Departments nationwide on an almost daily basis. This led to UHL declaring a ‘Major Internal Incident’ on January 2nd, which saw fatigued off-duty staff requested to return to work to assist their overworked colleagues. I compliment them and all health workers for the jobs that they do, but the reason that so many are quitting their jobs is plain to be seen.

‘Since the ill-advised and strongly opposed downgrading to Model 2 status of Nenagh, Ennis and St. John’s Hospitals’ in 2009, the ‘Centre of Excellence’ Model 4 University Hospital Limerick has provided the only 24-hour A&E service for the entire population of Limerick city and county, North Tipperary and Clare. This has meant that ambulances in the Mid-West region could only transport 112/999 patients to UHL’s Emergency Department, while bypassing Nenagh, St Johns and Ennis Hospitals on the way’ he says.

‘A lot has changed in the intervening 14 years and the population in all these areas has grown significantly. UHL has long been unable to cope with the growing demand.

‘I most recently raised this issue in the Dail in October. I stated at that time that Government cannot bury its head to the truth of what is happening in UHL and that the continuous overcrowding in A&E was already ominous at that point.

‘I questioned at that time why an Emergency Plan that utilised and upgraded the excellent services available in local hospitals such as Nenagh and Ennis was not put in place. I will continue to raise the growing need for additional services at Nenagh Hospital throughout the coming Dail term in light of the catastrophe we are currently witnessing.

‘It is imperative that the suffering we have seen people endure in A&E’s is addressed. It is crucial that their fear of being referred to hospital is removed. That the terror of being left suffering endlessly on a trolley endlessly is eliminated.
‘People deserve nothing less’ concluded Deputy Lowry.