It’s claimed the overcrowding crisis at the region’s main hospital could be reversed with a government funding injection of 30 million euro over 3 years.
Obstetrician Dr Gerry Burke, who is one of five doctors who’ve penned an open letter on the challenges facing the UL Hospitals Group, says an additional 450 staff is needed to bring trolley numbers down to normal levels.
In an unprecedented move, the five clinical managers of the University Hospital Limerick group wrote an open letter outlining the challenges facing them as the overcrowding crisis persists.
They’re calling for more staff and community services, while criticising the fact that they receive less funding on a proportional basis than other hospital groups.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has praised the open letter and says senior clinicians are well-placed to outline solutions to the problems there.
The Clinical Director for Maternal and Child Health within the UL Hospitals Group is one of the five behind the letter.
Dr Gerry Burke insists that it would only take a 30 million budget boost over three years to reverse the overcrowding crisis, to allow them to hire an additional 450 clinical staff.
He believes that over decades, Limerick was left behind when it came to healthcare resources and now is the time to change that.
Politicians have pointed to difficulties in recruiting staff nationally, but Dr Burke believes that providing better working conditions for staff would make the job far more attractive.
He’s ruled out reopening the A&E at Ennis General, saying it would not have any impact on overcrowding at Dooradoyle, and that they would be unable to provide the same standard of care in Ennis for the very sick.
Asked if he’s confident the required funding will be made available, Dr Burke had this to say.
