The Minister for Health has confirmed that the first phase of the long awaited 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick will open next week.
It’s hoped the 19 million euro facility will help ease chronic overcrowding at the busiest hospital in the country.
The long awaited development at University Hospital Limerick has been largely completed in recent weeks, and now Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed the first 20 beds will come on stream from Monday next.
Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe says he has been informed that a second ward will open in December, with a further 20 beds opening at the beginning of January.
It’s hoped the extra capacity will help ease chronic overcrowding issues at the region’s main hospital.
Trolley numbers have begun to spiral once again this week, with 74 people waiting on trolleys there yesterday, according to INMO figures, more than three times the number of any other facility in the country.
The situation has been been compounded by outbreaks of Covid-19 at the Dooradoyle facility and at Ennis General Hospital, which has led to 188 staff, who tested positive or were identified as close contacts having to taking time off.
A large number of outpatient appointments and elective procedures have been cancelled until this Friday as a result.
