Fears have been expressed that the opening of additional beds at the region's main hospital will lead to a reduction in staff at Ennis General.
UL Hospitals Group has unveiled its "Winter Resilience Plan" which aims to mimimise overcrowding in the Emergency Department of University Hospital Limerick.
New beds being opened next month will increase overall capacity by 30 while patients, including some from Clare, will be treated at a five-day speciality geriatric ward that is to open at St. John's in Limerick.
CEO of UL Hospitals Group Colette Cowan says every effort is being made to reduce waiting times at University Hospital Limerick this winter.
As part of the plan, additional staff will be hired but Chairman of the HSE's Regional Health Forum West, Tom McNamara has been telling me that he fears staff will have to be transferred from Ennis General.
Separately, the Department of Health is continuing to work on proposals aimed at providing a new bulding for St Joseph's Hosptial in Ennis.
HIQA has previously highlighted issues with the Ennis facility saying its "significantly non-compliant" with regulations.
The Minister with responsibility for Primary Care, Kathleen Lynch is on an official visit to Tuamgraney, Ennistymon and Kilrush today, but says upgrading St Joseph's Hospital remains a top priority.
