National: University Hospital Limerick boss goes on 'leave period'

COLETTE COWAN, the chief executive of University Hospital Limerick (UHL), has gone on a "leave period" amid a week of record levels of overcrowding. 

An acting CEO, Sonya Cotter, has been put in place.

On Tuesday, February 6,  the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said that there were 138 patients on trolleys, while a day later, on Wednesday, February 7, that figure had risen to 150 - the highest figure since the INMO began recording their trolley watch lists in 2006.

According to reports, senior staff at the hospital were told via email that Ms Cotter will take up the role of acting CEO from Wednesday, February 14.

The email does not reveal the reason why Ms Cowan will be on leave, however, it does outline the arrangements being put in place while she is out.

Ms Cotter has previously worked in the HSE's Special Delivery Unit. 

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has recently stated that they “have invested more in University Hospital Limerick, in the time of this Government, than in any other hospital". 

Speaking on the day that trolley figures in UHL hit 150 for the first time, the minister said that “there is no standing over those kinds of numbers”, outlining that UHL has been given significant resources in recent years.

In response to a query from the Limerick Leader, an HSE spokesperson said: "When a delegated official is on leave, there are always acting arrangements put in place to ensure there is authority to discharge functions and operate services at all times. Ms Sonya Cotter, Assistant National Director of the HSE, is to be the acting CEO of ULHG from February 14th for the purpose of covering leave."