The Dáil will this week debate a motion brought forward by a Clare TD calling for the Government to expand the MAUs and Injury Units at model 2 hospitals, such as Ennis, to a 24/7 service.
Scariff Independent TD Michael McNamara says it’s also time to invest in electronic health records nationally as well as Medical Officers at Nursing Homes.
The motion, which will be brought forward by Scariff Independent TD Michael McNamara is co-signed by fellow members of the Independent Grouping; Michael Fitzmaurice, Marian Harkin, Catherine Connolly, Joan Collins and Thomas Pringle.
They’re calling for the expansion of Medical Assessment Units and Injury Units at Tier 2 hospitals, like Ennis General, to a 24-hour service, seven days a week.
They also want to see a designated medical officer appointed in every nursing home, with assurances that patients in nursing homes can access treatment by primary care teams.
In addition, the Government is also being called on to procure or deliver an electronic health system to replace paper-based health records, without further delay.
The motion recognises that 2022 was the worst year for overcrowding in Irish hospitals on record, with University Hospital Limerick recording the highest trolley numbers of any facility in the country.
It also acknowledges the expansion of MAU services at Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals, as well as ongoing recruitment, changes to HSE protocols and additional funding geared towards addressing lengthy waiting lists.
The motion will be debated in the Dáil on Wednesday, but as it’s a private members’ motion, it’s non-binding, so even if it is passed, there’s no obligation on the coalition to pay attention to it.
