Mid-west hospital overcrowding
Deputy Wynne raised severe trolley numbers in the mid-west, paediatric concerns at UHL, and alleged underfunding for Ennis Hospital. The Minister said trolley numbers in Limerick have fallen significantly and that staff efforts, both in hospital and community, have helped reduce pressure.
Like a broken record, I am compelled to raise the issue of healthcare in the mid-west region for the second week. Today, we have 78 people abandoned on trolleys. We heard the recent specific concerns from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, about paediatric care in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, as its members are seeing an increase in the number of children on trolleys.
I have also heard that not a brass penny has been allocated to Ennis hospital since it started taking emergency patients, even though we got assurances from the HSE that all would be in hand. Not one day surgery could take place in the month of January, as a total of 1,180 people have languished on trolleys. I also hear that surgical patients are now on the forgotten lists of the UL Hospitals Group.
I also understand the Tánaiste will visit UHL in the coming weeks. Will he ensure that he visits unannounced and that additional beds and resources are provided for Ennis hospital?
Comment on this
There has been an historical issue with the number of patients on trolleys in Limerick, of which we are aware. There has also been a very successful initiative by the healthcare professionals, not just in the hospital but in the community group as well, since we had the three very high days at the start of January. As of 8 o'clock this morning, there are eight patients on trolleys. The average number of patients on trolleys in the past seven days is five or six. The numbers have been brought very low. What we need to ensure is that the efforts that have been made by the healthcare professionals there are supported and we can sustain them right through the year. We must ensure the number of patients on trolleys that we saw a few weeks ago is consigned to history.
The Deputy will be aware that since Covid arrived, the Government has sanctioned and delivered 132 beds in UHL. There has been an increase in the workforce of 1,000 and an increase in the budget of 20%. Recently, I turned the sod on an additional 96 beds and we are currently considering the proposal for two additional 96-bed blocks.