University Hospital Limerick (UHL) will continue to have patient safety risks “until the current and future demand-capacity gap is fully addressed”, the health and safety watchdog has said.The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) on Thursday published a number of inspection reports into healthcare facilities, assessing their compliance with national standards and regulations.The midwest hospital is consistently the most overcrowded in the State and has had a series of deaths of patients, many of which occurred after long waits for care.The watchdog noted the November 2025 inspection had a number of improvements compared to the previous one in January 2025, including around overcrowding, staffing and patient feedback. A new 96-bed block was opened in the hospital in October last year which the inspectors noted had an improvement on patient flow and overcrowding. However, they said “significant capacity pressures” continue.“This was demonstrated by the hospital’s ongoing capacity escalation, continued dependence on surge capacity, and the persisting use of trolleys for patients admitted to inpatient areas. The placement of patients on trolleys in wards is not sustainable to delivering safe patient care and patient safety risks will persist until the current and future demand-capacity gap is fully addressed,” the body said.The hospital had a contract which allowed it to utilise 50 post-acute rehabilitation beds in Nenagh transitional care unit, but this expired last September.“This impacted the overall net gain of the new 96-bed build which resulted in 46 actual bed gain,” the report said.According to the inspection report, UHL management said the hospital typically works at 120 per cent bed capacity. The recommended level is 85 per cent.The hospital’s emergency department attendance rate in 2024 was 87,195 or an average of 238 daily presentations. This was 62,459 up to August 2025 – an average of 257 daily presentations.“The continued placement of patients on trolleys in ward clinical areas is not a sustainable response to delivering safe patient care. Management stated that the opening of the second 96-bed block would further reduce the number of patients on trolleys in ward clinical areas,” the report added.[ Health service recorded deficit of €400m to end of May, committee hearsOpens in new window ]The inspectors noted staffing deficits remain in the hospital when compared to approved levels, there had been a “notable increase” in staff compared to the January 2025 inspection. The uptick was seen in a range of disciplines including consultants, non-consultant hospital doctors, registrars, senior house officers and pharmacists.The Government is in the process of further increasing capacity at the hospital, having recently awarded a public works contract for the delivery of a new 96-bed inpatient ward block at UHL. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill also secured a 44-acre site in Raheen, Limerick for the future expansion of the hospital, in line with recommendations from Hiqa’s review of healthcare in the midwest.Sandra Broderick, regional executive officer for HSE Midwest, said the findings reflect the progress and challenges that remain.“We are making real progress and recognise the challenges we continue to face. Demand for our services continues to grow and our staff are working tirelessly every day to provide the best possible care and support to patients and families in a very challenging environment,” she said.“Progress and pressure can and do exist in the Mid West at the same time. The region remains focused on continuing to strengthen patient care, quality and patient experience, and on responding to the recommendations and concerns highlighted through Hiqa’s inspection process.”[ Irish Times view on the health budget: an exercise in make believeOpens in new window ]