The Taoiseach says he’ll “work night and day” to deliver a second Emergency Department for the Midwest, if it’s recommended by HIQA.
It comes as the latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show extremely high patient attendances are persisting at University Hospital Limerick this week.
University Hospital Limerick consistently records the highest level of overcrowding of any hospital in the country, prompting campaigns locally for Ennis General to be upgraded to a Model 3 facility.
The UL Hospitals Group is the only one in the country without such a facility, following the downgrading of Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s in 2009, in favour of a centre of excellence in Dooradoyle.
This week trolley numbers at UHL peaked at 141; the second highest number of any hospital in the country since records began. That number has dipped to 110 today.
Earlier this month, the Health Minister announced a review into the need for a second ED in the Midwest in response to the overcrowding crisis.
The terms of reference won’t be published, however, until Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke’s Independent investigation into the death of Aoife Johnston is completed in the coming weeks.
Speaking as part of a wide-ranging interview on Clare FM’s Morning Focus, the Taoiseach admitted that reconfiguration was “botched” in the Midwest.
But while he says significant funding and resources have been made available, he believes there are very deep-seeded and real issues relating to the running of the health services in the Midwest, and he awaits the outcome of the Frank Clarke report in terms of guidance on what actions to take.
Simon Harris also said the view had previously been held that one ED was enough for this region, but he’s not convinced that’s the case anymore and he says he’ll work to deliver a second one, if the HIQA review recommends it.
You can listen to the full interview here:
