Midwest Hospital Campaign Urges HIQA To Consider Views Of The Public In Review

Clare FM

The Midwest Hospital Campaign insists an upcoming review of urgent and emergency care in this region must take the views of the public into consideration. HIQA has published the terms of reference for its long-awaited review, which will consider the case for a second emergency department in the Midwest, with the findings to be published next summer. Explaining his reasoning behind ordering a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the Midwest in May, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he wants "an answer for people in the Midwest" as to why trolley numbers are rising at University Hospital Limerick, despite record levels of investment. The Health Information and Quality Authority's review will consider the case for a second ED in this region and will also consider the recommendations of the HSE-commissioned review by former Chief Justice Frank Clarke into the death of Shannon teenager Aoife Johnston at UHL in 2022. Consultation is central to the terms of reference published this week - with HIQA stating an Expert Advisory Group made up of patients representatives as well as clinical and nursing expertise will be formed. In addition, a Clinical Advisory Forum will be formed and appropriate specialist expertise will be utilised. Ennistymon resident and Midwest Hospital Campaign Group spokesperson Marie McMahon - whose husband passed away on a trolley at UHL in 2018 - say it's vital the experiences of the public are taken into account. A previous HIQA inspection of University Hospital Limerick carried out in November of last year found the "dignity and privacy" was impacted on by overcrowding, with the facility's emergency department deemed ineffective in managing patient flow. It's now two weeks since scheduled care was cancelled indefinitely at all facilities managed by the UL Hospitals Group in response to surge overcrowding. Today, the number of people waiting for a bed at the Dooradoyle facility has dropped to 20. Oireachtas Health Committee member and Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway believes everyone is hopeful a second emergency department in the Midwest is the primary recommendation of the upcoming review.