Mid-west emergency care review
Willie O'Dea sought a time-limited HIQA review into emergency care capacity in the mid-west and asked when 24-7 injury clinics would open. The Taoiseach said he would raise the clinic hours, noted the ongoing HIQA review and the pending Frank Clarke report.
The Minister for Health recently announced a HIQA inquiry into emergency care capacity in the mid-west but a lack of capacity would be a more accurate description. I ask for an assurance that the review will be time limited. We cannot allow this to drag on interminably. People are suffering. The trolley figures last week were again outrageous. In that regard, a year has elapsed since we got a commitment that the injury clinics in the three satellite hospitals, St. John's, Ennis and Nenagh, would be open on a 24-7 basis. That has not happened yet. When is it going to happen?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. I will raise the opening times of the injury clinics with the Minister for Health and ask him to revert.
HIQA is now carrying out a review into urgent and emergency care capacity in the mid-west region to determine whether a second ED is required. Terms of reference will be finalised shortly. The Minister rightly wants to wait for Mr. Justice Frank Clarke to conclude his report, which is expected to happen this month. Smaller emergency departments in the region, as the Deputy knows, closed 15 years ago. This was based on clear clinical advice at the time but we do know there are significant pressures in the mid-west region. The actions the Minister has taken are correct. I will get a timeline for the Deputy.