A damning report on the emergency department at the region’s main hospital states it’s failing to provide privacy or dignity to its dying patients.
HIQA inspectors who visited University Hospital Limerick say overcrowding at the ED is posing a ‘significant risk’ to the health and welfare of people in the department.
Health inspectors carried out an unannounced inspection at UHL on the 15th of March last.
It was a day when the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation documented 88 people waiting for beds in Dooradoyle – with 60 in the emergency department.
59 confirmed COVID patients were at UHL at the time, with the hospital managing nine declared infection outbreaks.
HIQA says that on the day in question, the number of patients in the resuscitation area of the ED was double its intended capacity.
They say ‘the normal means of facilitating patient flow’ were simply not working at the hospital at the time of inspection.
Patients who spoke to health inspectors noted severe delays, with one person waiting more than 116 hours, a second waiting over 85 hours, and a third waiting 71 hours.
UHL was assessed in four key compliance standards – failing three and only partially complying with the fourth.
Inspectors say on the day of the inspection they weren’t assured management arrangements were in place to support the delivery of a safe and high quality service, along with managing significant demand.
The report notes that the facility being ‘the only model 4 hospital in the Midwest region’ significantly impacted the workings of the hospital’s emergency department.
HIQA found despite an increase in staffing levels in 2021, on the day in question the number of nurses on duty was ‘not sufficient’ to meet the needs of the people attending the ED.
They noted delays in triaging patients in particular was amplified by understaffing at UHL.
However, the report does emphasise the staff who were present were observed to be ‘kind and caring’ towards patients, and tried to respond to their individual needs where possible.
Arguably one of the most damning aspects of the document is the health inspectors’ assertion that patients receiving end-of-life care had their dignity or privacy compromised.
HIQA stated this wasn’t in line with best practice or national standards.
It said hospital management had made ‘inadequate efforts’ to address the issue of overcrowding in the department, compromising confidentiality and safety.
It’s understood the UL Hospitals Group has submitted a compliance plan in response to the findings, outlining its intended actions to address the issues raised in the report.
HIQA says it’ll continue to monitor issues in UHL’s emergency department and the implementation of the plan to ensure patient safety risks are reduced.
HIQA says a model three hospital is among the options that should be considered to deal with capacity issues at University Hospital Limerick.
Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill has been speaking with HIQA’s Director of Healthcare Regulation, Sean Egan, who says management failed to put measures in place to manage the situation.
Listen back to the full interview here:
