It’s claimed the recruitment of staff for a new hospital in Clare must be a top priority of the incoming government.
It follows a special presentation in Ennis last night, which outlined a number of possibilities for new Emergency Departments in the MidWest.
Based on data gathered by University of Limerick PHD student Sinéad Madden, Hybrid Simulation Modelling Lab presented a number of possible futures for MidWest healthcare.
The best in class scenario shows a new Model 4 Hospital on a greenfield site in Ennis, supported by a Model 3 Hospital in West Clare, University Hospital Limerick and a new ED in North Tipperary by 2050.
This would provide one Emergency Department for roughly every 107,000 people in the region, rather than the current ratio of one for 413,000.
It comes as UHL remains the most overcerowded facility in the country today, with 108 patients on trolleys.
Sinéad Madden admits this outcome is unlikely, but believes the prospect of a new hospital in Ennis is virtually nailed on and that the county capital’s new status as a university town could aid with attracting skilled personnel.
The report also claimed that 85% of the planned and delivered capacity for the MidWest between 2020 and 2031 went towards Limerick, with just 10% going to Clare and the remainder to North Tipperary.
Despite this, 48 new inpatient beds are promised for Ennis Hospital by 2028, and new two new operating theatres, both of which are at detailed design stage, were included in the HSE’s latest Capital Plan.
The Friends of Ennis Hospital, believes that in the short-term, the HSE should look into changing the Local Injury Unit hours from 10am to 10pm for the Summer period, to cater for more people before the clocks go back in Winter.
Chairperson Angela Coll says though that with HIQAs review of MidWest emergency capacity on the horizon, the next government must begin the process of recruiting specialised staff.
You can listen to the full interview here:
