If you or someone close to you was harmed while receiving care at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), you may be looking for answers. Recent reports about patient safety can make that experience harder to process. It is reasonable to ask what happened, whether the care was appropriate and what you can do next.
Every patient’s circumstances are different. A poor outcome, a long wait or a mistake does not automatically mean there is a medical negligence claim. But if you believe avoidable care caused an injury or made an existing condition worse, you can ask for an independent assessment.
What have the reports said about UHL?
The HSE published an independent investigation into matters connected with the death of Aoife Johnston in 2024. In September 2025, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published a review of urgent and emergency care in the Mid West.
The most recent HIQA update about UHL, published in June 2026, recognised sustained improvements in management and early benefits from a new 96-bed block. It also said significant capacity pressures continued, including reliance on surge capacity and the use of trolleys for admitted patients in ward areas. HIQA warned that patient safety risks would persist until the gap between demand and capacity was addressed.
Those findings cannot, on their own, tell you whether the treatment in your own case was negligent. That requires a careful review of what happened to you and what difference any failings made to your health.
When might care at UHL lead to a medical negligence claim?
Depending on the facts, concerns may arise about a delay in recognising a serious condition, missed or delayed test results, a failure to act when symptoms worsened, delayed treatment or referral, or an error in surgery or follow-up care. Overcrowding may form part of the circumstances, but the legal question is what care you should reasonably have received and whether a failure in that care caused avoidable harm.
To establish a claim, you will generally need evidence that the care fell below the appropriate professional standard and that this caused an injury or made your condition worse. For example, a delay alone is not enough if the outcome would have been the same with timely treatment. Medical records and an opinion from a suitably qualified independent expert are usually central to answering these questions.
You do not have to work this out from media coverage, or decide for yourself which member of staff may have been responsible. The first step is to understand the care you received and the harm that followed.
What should you do if you have concerns?
Put your health first. If you still have symptoms or need treatment, seek medical advice promptly. You can ask another clinician to review your care if you have unanswered questions.
Write down what you remember. Note dates, symptoms, conversations, tests, treatment and any changes in your health. Keep discharge letters, appointment details, prescriptions and records of extra costs or time away from work. Do not worry if you cannot remember every detail.
Ask for your records and an explanation. Patients can request access to their medical information. The HSE also accepts formal complaints through Your Service Your Say. A complaint may help you seek answers, but it is a separate process from a claim for compensation. If you are considering a claim, speak to a solicitor without waiting for a complaint process to finish.
Get legal advice early. In Ireland, the usual time limit for a medical negligence personal injury claim is two years from the injury or the later date of knowledge, subject to exceptions. Different rules can apply, including for children and claims following a death. The date of knowledge has a specific legal meaning, so do not assume that time only starts when you receive a report or confirmation of a mistake. A solicitor can assess the deadline for your circumstances.
How HOMS Assist can help
If you were treated at UHL and believe your care caused avoidable harm, we will listen to what happened and explain your options in plain language. We can review the available records, identify where independent medical evidence is needed and guide you through the next steps. We cannot promise a particular outcome, but we will give your concerns the attention they deserve.
Contact HOMS Assist to speak with our medical negligence team about your experience at University Hospital Limerick.
About the author: Áine McSweeney is a seasoned solicitor at HOMS Assist, specialising in medical negligence claims. With over two decades of experience and a diploma in healthcare law, Áine combines her legal expertise and deep understanding of healthcare standards to advocate for clients affected by medical errors.
