Written answer
Hospital Facilities
The Minister said Injury Unit expansion is being planned, with locations prioritised by need, and referred Listowel’s request to the HSE.
3763. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Health to provide a minor injury unit in Listowel to cater for the Listowel and greater north Kerry region to alleviate and address the pressure on the accident and emergency department in UHK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62751/26]
Comment on this
The Health Service Executive (HSE) established a Working Group to review Injury Units and identify measures to improve their operation and functionality. The recommendations arising from this review were adopted by the HSE Executive Management Team and have been shared with my Department.
Injury Units provide unscheduled emergency care for patients with injuries that are not life- or limb-threatening. They have an important role in ensuring that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting, while also supporting the more effective use of Emergency Department capacity.
The 2023 National Review of Injury Units recommended, among other measures, the expansion of geographical coverage and the prioritisation of locations for new Injury Unit provision.
An implementation plan for the expansion programme is being developed with the relevant Implementation Group. This will be informed by a safe model of care and by recommendations from the Emergency Medicine Programme.
The prioritisation of future locations will take account of population need, the location of existing Injury Units, and identified gaps in geographical coverage.
In relation to the particular query raised regarding an Injury Unit for Listowel, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.