There’s widespread disappointment being expressed in Clare about the level of funding allocated to the region in the HSE’s winter plan.
Additional funding of €1.73 million will be given to the Midwest for the months ahead of a total budget of 169 million euro.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s brought the HSE winter plan to Cabinet, and it includes six initiatives for the University of Limerick Hospital Group’s facilities.
Some of the measures will see the provision of four additional beds at Milford Hospice, ring fenced diagnostics, nursing supports to target weekend discharge, and a Medical Manpower Manager for older persons and chronic disease.
However, there’s already been criticism at the level of funding allocated to this region in the plan, in the context of continued overcrowding difficulties at University Hospital Limerick.
There’s also been disappointment expressed at what’s claimed to be a lack of assistance towards home carers in this county in particular.
The recent ‘Towards An Anti Poverty Strategy for Clare’ discussion document suggested just 4.4 percent of home care hours here are delivered by the HSE.
That compares to 49.6 percent in Limerick and 56 percent in the North Tipperary/East Limerick area.
Barefield-based Independent Councillor Ann Norton, who’s herself a carer, says a lack of support could cause further bottlenecks to develop in UHL in the winter.
Listen back to the full interview here:
Meanwhile, Minister Stephen Donnelly will visit University Hospital Limerick tomorrow, to turn the sod on the new 96-Bed Ward Block in Dooradoyle.
