The Midwest Hospitals Campaign group say it’s their belief nothing is being ruled out in the fight to reopen Ennis’ A&E after they met with the Taoiseach on the matter.
Leo Varadkar had appeared to pour cold water on the prospect of reopening the emergency departments in Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s during a visit to University Hospital Limerick on Friday.
HIQA had suggested the prospect be looked at when they published a report on overcrowding at UHL last year.
Ballyvaughan-based member of the Midwest Hospitals Campaign group, Noeleen Moran, says they’ve received assurances nothing is off the table.
Listen to the full interview here:
Statement from the Taoiseach’s Office following the meeting
“The Taoiseach met with the Mid-West hospital campaign group today as part of his visit to Limerick. He thanked the group for the useful discussion and was grateful to them for the personal experiences they shared with him. He highlighted some of the areas he would be exploring, in conjunction with the Government representatives for the Mid-West region, to improve care for patients in the region.
“He told the group that more capacity was needed in UHL, which is now under construction. He said the opening of the new Bons Secours Hospital is an important development for the region and that the HSE is exploring the purchase of Barrington’s Hospital.
“He agreed with the need to upgrade Nenagh, St John’s and Ennis but noted that this needed to be done safely and in a staffable way. He said that he would hold discussions with incoming CEO of the HSE, Bernard Gloster, and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.”
