The Government’s response to shortfalls in services at the emergency department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has been strongly defended by outgoing Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly who said it had invested more into the midwest region than any previous government.
“We know the waiting times in the midwest have been radically reduced, and we do need to acknowledge what our healthcare workers have done there,” said Mr Donnelly.
He said there was a historical deficit of care in UHL – which required both investment and reform – and he had addressed it since becoming Minister.
“We’ve already added 180 beds to UHL. There’s another block opening before Christmas. There’s a 96-bed block opening next year, and there’s another 96-bed block being built. We’ve committed to an additional number of beds on top of that.”
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He also said that under the current plan, an additional 3,000 beds would be provided to the midwest region. “It will go from having the lowest number of hospital beds per capita of the six regions to having the second highest.”
Mr Donnelly and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee unveiled Fianna Fáil’s new health policy in Dublin on Thursday.
The 12-page document has pledged to invest in ED services, increase the number of ED consultants by 50 per cent, and ensure more access to diagnostics after hours and at weekends.
In terms of access to other hospital departments, outpatient services and getting access to GP care, it has also promised it will increase the number of GPs by 1,500, open 4,000 more hospital beds and open a further 100 ICU beds.
