The Minister for Health insists the findings of the latest HIQA inspection into the University Hospital Of Limerick present significant ‘glimmers of hope’.
The release of the report coincides with the Minister’s visit to Clare to officially open a new Local Injury Unit & Primary Care Centre in Ennis.
Stephen Donnelly completed his visit to Clare today after unveiling special plaques to mark the official opening of the new Local Injury Unit at Ennis General & a state of the art Primary Care Centre on the Station Road.
The Ministerial visit comes in the wake of the results of HIQA’s latest unannounced inspection at University Hospital Limerick.
For the second year in a row, the report found that patient dignity and privacy continued to be impacted by overcrowding at UHL.
On Monday, meanwhile the Emergency Department at Dooradoyle registered a record 292 presentations.
However, Minister Donnelly has pointed to significant ‘glimmers of hope’ identified within the report such as improved nurse staffing levels in the ED, coupled with the greater on-site availability of consultants throughout the working week.
He says the provision of additional resources on a seven day basis such as key diagnostics services are beginning to have the desired effect on patient discharge times.
In a wide ranging interview on Clare FM’s Morning Focus, Minister Donnelly addressed the ongoing calls for the Medical Assessment Unit at Ennis to operate on a 24/7 basis.
Despite, favouring the expansion of operating times for the Ennis service, the Minister says the expertise required for round the clock care could be utilised more efficiently elsewhere.
The UL Hospitals Group meanwhile, claims expanding operations at Ennis General Hospital will play a vital role in tackling the regions overcrowding crisis.
Between January & March , Ennis operated 20% above International best practice capacity as surge beds were opened in a bid to combat patient overflow from University Hospital Limerick.
The development led to the cancellation of elective day surgeries at the county town facility for three days in a row during February.
However UL Hospitals Group CEO, Professor Collette Cowan insists plans are in place to cater for Ennis’s growing population.
You can listen to the full interview below.
