Friends of Ennis Hospital

12/10/2026

** 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒**
WE DON'T BEGRUDGE GALWAY ITS BEDS.
BUT WHERE IS THE URGENCY FOR UHL?

We do not begrudge Galway a single additional hospital bed. Its patients deserve investment, just as ours do.
But it is University Hospital Limerick where HIQA has identified serious risks to patient safety. UHL is managing a greater emergency workload with fewer beds and fewer consultants.
The question is not why Galway is receiving investment. The question is why the recognised patient safety risks at UHL are not being addressed with the same urgency.
Investment should reflect clinical need, patient safety and the evidence, not geography.
https://www.connachttribune.ie/news/galway-city/150-bed-ward-block-moves-forward-as-part-of-eu5bn-uhg-redevelopment-9279174

12/10/2026

The Midwest Region is short 100’s of beds

The next 96 bed block is due in 3 years

These are facts not FEH estimates

By the end of this year 100’s more patients will have been admitted to UHL without a bed waiting for them

That’s another fact

Extended LIU hours
Extended GP coverage
Extended outpatient clinics will NOT reduce the need for more beds

That’s another very uncomfortable fact for our health minister

We are not seeing much urgency to deal with the constant consistent over crowding

We are not seeing any solutions being offered

We are not seeing more consultants and nurses being hired to mitigate the risk to patient safety

And let us be clear THERE IS A RISK from over crowding

Extended trolley stays present their own risks

And the minister blames patients

Facts matter
These are the facts
UHL had admitted more patients than ANY OTHER hospital so far this year
UHL has admitted more patients over 75 than ANY OTHER hospital this year so far

Where should these patients have gone Minister?

11/10/2026

Lets be honest here, NO ONE 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐒 to end up in UHL

It’s not right to have to say that it’s not fair on staff who do their best under horrendous pressure.
It’s not fair on the patients many of whom are elderly and travelling long distances to receive care.
Its not right to say it but it is the truth

Irelands busiest ED 𝐔𝐇𝐋
Hospital with the most trolleys 𝐔𝐇𝐋
The Model 4 with the least consultants 𝐔𝐇𝐋

And the minister blames the patients for attending?

in or around 75% of those who go to UHL have already seen a medical professional be that a doctor nurse pharmacist or paramedic

They aren't going to UHL with a runny nose or a sprained thumb

They are going because they are SICK

It is 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 to us that the Minister for HEALTH cannot see that

There is 𝐍𝐎 𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐘 to fix the issue either

What are we waiting for ?

100,000 attendances? (will have that by christmas)
400 patients in a single day? (will have that by Dec 10th)
200 on trolleys or inappropriate spaces? (winter is coming)

The attendances are huge yes they are but it is the 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 that are causing the trolley crisis (Well actually its not the admissions its the fact that we don't have beds for the admissions)

HIQA identified a bed capacity gap
FEH identified a bed capacity gap
The ESRI identified a bed capacity gap

And 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

10/10/2026

**PLEASE SHARE! **

𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐇𝐋!

The Minister’s words. The patients’ reality.

Better GP access and out-of-hours care are essential—but they cannot replace acute hospital capacity.

HIQA identified a risk to patient safety. What is being done to protect patients while they wait?

FEH campaigns for the people left behind.
𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞.

09/10/2026

Lots of focus in the Health Department press release about virtual care but will it work?

09/10/2026

New beds and theatre block promised for Ennis but when will it happen?

08/10/2026

100’s of Clare patients on waiting lists for procedures so when is the surgical hub going to be up and running?

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

VIRTUAL WARDS: WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH TELL US?
While virtual wards can improve patient care, international research highlights important considerations, particularly for rural communities and older patients.

🔹 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Reliable connectivity and suitable technology cannot be assumed.

🔹𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: Access to clinical assessment, diagnostics and emergency escalation remains essential.

🔹 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Research supports hospital-at-home care for appropriately selected patients, but not every patient is suitable.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

How will the HSE guarantee timely clinical care and emergency escalation for patients receiving hospital-level care at home?

Virtual wards have a role, but they cannot replace investment in physical acute hospital capacity.

And a virtual ward 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 replace the need for an acute hospital IN Clare FOR Clare!