HIQA Urges Immediate Action to Address Patient Safety Risks in Mid-West Region
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has urged immediate action to address pressing patient safety risks in the Mid-West region. With 133 patients currently waiting for beds at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), HIQA presents three options to increase bed capacity swiftly and safely.
HIQA recommends enhancing pre-hospital emergency care, community care, GP access, and workforce investment. It also suggests refurbishing existing services in the region. To tackle the bed shortage, HIQA proposes expanding existing emergency departments, establishing new urgent care centers, and boosting community-based urgent care services. Expanding emergency departments is estimated to yield the highest capacity increase in the shortest timeframe.
HIQA's review found that expanding capacity or extending the site are the most effective ways to increase beds at UHL quickly, addressing immediate patient safety concerns. A 96-bed unit due to open soon will not meet the required capacity. The Government's own report and a Deloitte report both conclude that at least 302 extra inpatient beds and 63 day case beds are needed in the region. HIQA presents a new hospital with a second emergency department as one of three options to the Government.
HIQA calls for swift action to increase bed capacity and improve patient safety in the Mid-West region. Expanding UHL's capacity, either by extending the Dooradoyle site or creating a new second site nearby, are among the viable options. The region needs at least 302 extra inpatient beds and 63 day case beds to meet demand. The Government must consider HIQA's recommendations to address the urgent patient safety risks.
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