Disappointment has been expressed over the delay in the provision of the planned 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick.
It had been expected that the unit would bring a badly-needed increase in bed capacity to the region’s main hospital before the end of the year, but its been confirmed it now won’t open until at least the middle of 2020.
It’s feared this will have a significant impact on the provision of healthcare in the Midwest.
After Minister Simon Harris confirmed funding for this new unit last November, there was a widely-held expectation it would open by winter 2019-20.
Planning permission had already been in place, but three months later, the HSE’s 2019 Capital Plan has yet to be released and the UL Hospitals Group is awaiting the formal go-ahead.
However, the fifteen month timeline for enabling works and construction works means the earliest opening date is now mid-2020.
IMO GP Committee member, Lahinch GP, Dr Michael Kelleher says the delay will have a knock-on affect on many services.
A former chair of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West has said the ongoing delay is completely unacceptable.
Fianna Fáil’s Tom McNamara says the people of Clare are tired of promises with no results.
Clare’s Junior Minister Pat Breen insists that work will get underway on the unit in the coming weeks:
