A potential delay to a 60-bed modular unit to alleviate overcrowding at UHL has led to renewed calls for Ennis General to be used to deal with the crisis.
An appeal by a Dooradoyle resident against the €14 million unit may see the process hit by a six month delay, on top of the 12 month wait already predicted.
Plans for the 60-bed modular unit have been given the green light but if upheld, this objection could delay it by six months.
A Dooradoyle resident has objected to An Bord Pleanála on the grounds that there is no landscaping plan to help alleviate the negative impact on the surrounding residential area.
In a statement to Clare FM, the UL Hospitals says a timeline cannot be put in place until confirmation of available capital is given, as well as the result of this objection.
However, it had previously been estimated to be 12 months away, and this development could add another six months.
It’s led to fresh calls for Ennis General Hospital to be utilised to help handle the number of patients in the MidWest from Independent Ennis Cllr Ann Norton:
UHL is the busiest hospital in the country, regularly topping the INMO’s daily trolleywatch report.
The UL Hospitals Group statement acknowledges that, at 400, the MidWest region does not have a sufficient number of hospital beds and welcomes plans to address this issue.
INMO MidWest Representative Mary Fogarty fears that situation there will worsen significantly between now and the 60-bed unit being in place.
