Serious staff shortages at University Hospital Waterford

University Hospital Waterford’s staffing in key areas lags behind other Irish hospitals, according to a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

HIQA’s report compiled inspections from 40 acute, specialist and post-acute healthcare services in Ireland across 2024. 

The inspection for UHW took place on June 5, 2024.

UHW was one of three healthcare services to report a shortfall in the approved number of specialised medical consultants, in a range between 4-7.65 whole-time equivalents.

Those speciality services include, but are not limited to Cardiology, Neurology, Radiology, Vascular Surgery and Trauma Orthopaedics.

The hospital was also one of five acute healthcare services to report a shortfall in NCDHs (junior doctors) in the range of 1-12%. There was also a 2.5% shortfall in nurses.

Half of all healthcare services nationwide reported a nursing shortage.

Despite the staffing void, UHW was found to be “compliant” or “substantially compliant” under all HIQA standards, which evaluated both managerial governance as well as quality and safety at the hospital.

In 2024, there were nearly 5,500 cancelled appointments in UHW.

HIQA’s Director of Healthcare Regulation, Sean Egan, said: “Our inspectors have spoken to many patients who have praised the healthcare staff who have cared for them. We regularly observe excellent practice from committed staff working in a challenging environment.

“While we are seeing tangible improvements in healthcare services, resourcing and capacity requirements, particularly in acute hospitals, need to be addressed to meet service demand. 

These shortfalls directly affect both patients and the workforce on a daily basis, and this becomes increasingly crucial as we come into the Winter months.”

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