New ED At Limerick Hospital On Track For May Opening

Photo © Pat Flynn

The UL Hospitals Group says the long awaited Emergency Department at the region’s main hospital is on track towards opening at the end of May.

In a statement to Clare FM, the hospital says work is progressing on the acquisition of equipment and on recruiting over 90 extra staff to open the new department.

But, while a number of nursing and consultant posts have already been filled, the opening is dependent on whether staffing targets are met.

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Chair Of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, Councillor Tom McNamara, says that there’s now fresh doubts over whether that can be achieved.

Full Statement from the UL Hospitals Group:

Work on the fit out of the new ED is progressing well and the contractors are on schedule to hand over the new department at the end of March 2017.

Work is also progressing on the acquisition and commissioning of equipment and on recruiting over 90 (WTE) extra staff to open the new department, UL Hospitals continues to liaise with the Department of Health on progress.

National and local recruitment campaigns are underway to support the opening of the new ED in May 2017. A number of nursing posts have already been filled and panels have been established to fill other vacancies.

In addition, two of the three ED Medical Consultant posts have already been filled and interviews are underway and panels are being formed to fill vacancies for Support and Clerical staff.

Subject to the success of the recruitment campaign and funding, UL Hospitals Group is planning to open the new ED before the end of May 2017.