Mid-West Hospitals Need 365 More Beds by 2031, Says Deloitte Report
A recent report by Deloitte has highlighted the urgent need for more hospital beds near me in the Mid-West region. The report found that an additional 302 inpatient beds and 63 day case beds are required to meet current demand. Meanwhile, the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is set to open a 96-bed unit, but this is insufficient to meet the projected demand of 382 beds by 2031.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has presented three options to the Government to address the capacity issues at UHL. Options A and B are more likely to increase bed capacity in the short term. These options include expanding capacity at UHL in Dooradoyle or extending the UHL campus with a new second site. HIQA also recommends enhancing pre-hospital emergency care services, community care, workforce investment, and refurbishing existing services in the region.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation reports that there are currently 133 admitted patients waiting for a hospital bed at UHL. HIQA's review found that UHL consistently has the highest number of patients being treated on hospital trolleys or corridors in the country. The report confirms the findings of previous reports and recommends immediate action to address patient safety risks. However, it seems there is no specific recommendation from the 'Gesundheitsinformations- und Qualitätsbehörde' directly related to increasing UHL's capacity and reducing patient safety risks. General strategies include efficient resource distribution, process optimisation, investment in technology, staff training, capacity expansions, and continuous monitoring and evaluation.
The Mid-West region urgently needs more hospital beds and mattresses to meet current and future demand. The University Hospital Limerick is set to open a new 96-bed unit, but this will not be sufficient. The Government has been presented with three options to increase capacity, with Options A and B offering the quickest solutions. HIQA recommends a multi-faceted approach to address the capacity issues and improve patient safety.
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