Limerick Sinn Féin TD, Maurice Quinlivan, has issued a warning that the number of patients on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick– reported today by the INMO as standing at 1,876 people for the month of October– indicated that another very difficult winter lies ahead for workers and patients at University Hospital Limerick. 

He said that the Government has failed to deliver enough hospital capacity over its term and has failed to take adequate action to address spiralling waiting lists at University Hospital Limerick. 

The Sinn Fein TD commented:

“The October 2024 trolley numbers at UHL demonstrate that the issue of capacity remains unresolved at the hospital. Already this year there have been 19,284 patients treated on trolleys. This is 1,395 people more than were treated in these conditions at the same point in 2023, remembering that 2023 was a record and shameful year for people on trolleys at UHL and unfortunately 2024 will be worse. 

Under the current Health Minister the numbers get worse and worse every year. Despite repeated calls on the Minister for Health to take direct action to address this challenge, he continues to act in a hands-off manner. It is apparent that after four years in position, the minister is out of his depth and has been for some time”.

The Limerick Deputy continued: 

“There are three government TD’s in Limerick and they fail to raise the issue of UHL with their government colleague. The people of Limerick deserve much better than this. We in Sinn Féin have outlined our approach to addressing this crisis which continues every day.
This week we launched the most extensive and comprehensive health plan ever produced by a political party. A plan that will transform healthcare and set Ireland on course for full universal healthcare by 2035.”

Discussing the Sinn Féin plan the Limerick Deputy outlined how the plan has 350 policy commitments across more than 60 policy areas spanning the broad range of health issues. It includes 25 key priorities across 10 sections, 5 First 100 Days commitments, and means that Sinn Féin is ready to go from Day 1 to deliver healthcare reform. 

He said:

“University Hospital Limerick has the highest number of people being treated in corridors and on hospital trolleys, it is treatment without privacy. It is not fair on the health workers, and it is not fair on the patients and their families. The recent reports into the tragic and avoidable death of young Aoife Johnston demonstrated how detrimental overcrowding is to patient health.

“There will be an election shortly and voters will face a stark choice. This is a choice between the same failures on health that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have overseen. Or a vote to transform the healthcare system by voting for Sinn Féin.”