Urgent leadership reforms needed at UHL

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said he was “quite taken aback” by Dr James Gray’s testimony at Aoife Johnston’s inquest where he described University Hospital Limerick as a dangerous place.

Minister Donnelly said some of Mr Gray’s colleagues have said the hospital is a “lot better and safer now” compared to the time when Ms Johnston died.

He said reforms have taken place since Ms Johnston’s death including senior decision makers being on site until 10pm on weeknights and they are rostered for weekends also.

“That should have been in place when Aoife Johnston died and it wasn’t in place,” the minister said.

Mr Donnelly added that he is not surprised by any clinician saying there are safety concerns at the hospital as he said patients on trolleys are in fact safety concerns.

Speaking in Athlone at the Irish Pharmacy Union conference he also extended his sympathies to Ms Johnston’s family.

“Quite rightly they have been apologised to by the hospital by the HSE and by me,” Mr Donnelly said.

“What happened to their beautiful daughter should not have happened.”

He said there are dedicated staff at UHL and morale is low at the moment and the inquest was very difficult for them.

Mr Donnelly said the ongoing level of trolleys in UHL is not safe and there is “no question” about that.

“The level of trolleys is not acceptable for people in the region,” Mr Donnelly said.

The minister added that there are people in the area who have been speaking to him about being fearful of going into the emergency department.

Read more: Aoife Johnston inquest exposes issues facing UHL

He said UHL has had more investment than any other hospital since 2016 but added that in spite of this investment there is a very concerning increase in the number of people on trolleys.

“There are more people turning up to the emergency department,” he said.

While some welcome reforms are happening there are further urgent reforms required regarding clinical and administrative leadership, Mr Donnelly added.

“What we need to see at a senior level at the hospital is UHL implementing an approach to discharge and patient flow that we know works in other hospitals,” he said.

Referring to the closure of emergency departments in surrounding areas in recent years and the impact it has had on UHL, Mr Donnelly said “EDs were shut down before the additional significant investment in UHL was required”.

The minister said he has asked for an updated view of the HSE in recent months as he is “conscious ” of people calling for another ED to be reopened nearby.

“The clinical view is very clearly that EDs in those hospitals, they are really very small hospitals, there simply wouldn’t be the level of specialism required in those hospitals for patient care,” Mr Donnelly said.

“Nevertheless myself and the HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster have asked all six of the regional executive officers to do a review of the assets of the hospital, and the community assets.”

He said nothing should be ruled out when considering future options and building hospitals and opening an ED.

“These things must always be kept under consideration,” he said.