The death last month of a 33-year-year old first-time mother at University Hospital Limerick once again put the troubled hospital in the headlines.
Shortly before that tragedy, a teenage girl with breathing difficulties died in the emergency department, while in 2022 Aoife Johnston (16) who had endured a long wait for care, died there. The HSE has apologised to her family.
And UHL’s chaotic trolley situation shows little sign of improving; last month it broke the record for the highest number of patients on trolleys since records began in 2006, with 150 people waiting for beds on February 7th.
So what’s the problem? It doesn’t seem to be money or staffing levels – so how can it be fixed?
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Health correspondent Paul Cullen explains UHL’s the troubling issues, what staff are saying and explores the solutions.
We also hear from Melanie Sheehan Cleary, who’s 21 year-old daughter Eve died just hours after being discharged from UHL in 2019.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.