https://www.limerickleader.ie/section/1195/advertise-with-us
Bringing you live local breaking news, sport, politics, weather & more in Limerick and County Limerick
All the latest breaking local news from Limerick and County Limerick
Keep up to date with the latest sports news
Full coverage of the annual national ploughing championships
Read all the latest Irish news and updates from around Ireland
Find whats happening in and around Limerick and County Limerick
Enjoy our award winning photos and picture galleries taken in Limerick and County Limerick
Read about the latest properties available in Limerick and County Limerick
Enjoy our latest and up to date motoring review and news in Limerick and County Limerick
Limerick and County Limerick Met Eireann Weather Forecast
Recent death notices and obituaries from Limerick and County Limerick
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
THE CHIEF executive of the University of Limerick Hospitals Group has issued an apology over the "distress" and "lack of dignity" experienced by some patients.
Prof Colette Cowan, who leads University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and five other facilities, appeared before the Oireachtas health committee this week.
It comes after a report from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) which found "insufficient" nursing staff numbers was "having an impact on the safe provision of care" and the hospital's "overcrowded and understaffed emergency department posed a significant risk" to patients.
The report found one patient was waiting 116 hours on a trolley for a hospital bed, with the findings arising from an unannounced visit Hiqa made to the Dooradoyle facility in March last.
In opening remarks in the committee, Prof Cowan said: "This is not the kind of report and hospital manager wishes to read. This is not the kind of care environment we wish to provide for the people of the Mid-West. It is not for want of effort on the part of the management team or commitment on the part of our staff."
She added: "At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the main findings of the Hiqa report. I apologise for the distress and th elack of dignity and privacy experienced by far too many patients seeking to access care in UHL over several years and in particular over the last 18 months when we have seen further growth in demand for healthcare following the Covid-19 pandemic."
The hospital boss said that a detailed compliance plan was developed ijn the wake of the report identifying actions to be taken in the short, medium and long term.
"We are improving internal processes and we are implementing new hospital avoidance initiatives. The solutions require closer integration with community services as set out in Slaintecare and more fundamentally, resourcing the health service in the Mid-West in line with the size and health needs of the population it serves," Prof Cowan added.
Take back the night! Culture Night back with a bang in Limerick
She said she hopes the publication of the report will be the "catalyst" to address what she feels is a "fundamental mismatch" between "demand and resources" in Dooradoyle and the wider region.
Prof Cowan also repeated her call for a new elective hospital in the region, with Limerick the only major city in the country not being granted one by government.
And she expressed support for St John's Hospital's plan to expand its services in the city centre.
To continue reading this article for FREE, please kindly register and/or log in.
Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!
Conack has started work on the Ardhú site off the NCR / Ennis Road for Tribeca Holdings | PICTURES: Adrian Butler
Killaloe Hotel & Spa - Your journey starts here
CASTING CALL - Actors needed for upcoming promotional video
Emma Burrows, Director of Legal, Regulation and Corporate Affairs at Bord Gáis Energy, and Ciara Carty, Director of Services with Focus Ireland
This Christmas is sorted with the Longcourt Hotel
The biggest ever Cannonball Road Trip returned to The Brehon, Killarney
Sign up for the FAI ETB course in Limerick now!
Let EZ Living Furniture give you a restful sleep
A custom made Media Unit, designed and handcrafted by West and Green. | PICTURE: Mike Lavery Photography
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the annual State of the European Union Speech on 14 September
Thinking about returning to learning? AONTAS, Ireland’s Adult Learning Organisation, are here to help
Mark Nagle of Eurospar in Bruff which is one of the participating stores
The Staker Wallace memorial in Kilfinane
Greg O'Shea won the ITV series Love Island in 2019
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.