The health watchdog has slammed as 'unacceptable' the delays facing patients in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle.

HIQA has published a report into the six facilities of the University of Limerick group.

It says the Dooradoyle emergency facility was overcrowded and not fit for purpose.

At the same facility the authority is highlighting delays in admitting children to wards, who are being accommodated in adult surroundings.

The delays were partly caused by the fact that a newly set-up children's area had not been opened.

Phelim Quinn is director of regulation at HIQA. He outlined the main issues to Newstalk Lunchtime.

In a statement, UL Hospitals says it welcomes the HIQA review and acknowledges the opportunity to review and reflect on the work of the UL Hospitals Group.

"The report highlights some major changes and also points to issues in relation to patient safety particularly around the Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick" it says.

Ann Doherty, CEO of UL Hospitals, said "Staff have been exceptional in their drive to make our hospitals as the best they can be. I am very aware that the emergency department is not acceptable for our patients or staff and I have acknowledged that for some time".

However we are in the middle of the construction of our new emergency department which is being built to 21st century standards and will be a vast improvement on our current ED" she added.

The new department is set to open in 2016.