Clare FM

A Clare Government Senator is calling for a third new 96-bed block to be approved and delivered at University Hospital Limerick in order to tackle legacy capacity issues. It comes as the third HIQA Report in a row, published this week found patient privacy and dignity continues to be impacted by overcrowding. On it's latest unannounced visit the Health Inspection and Quality Authority found the level of overcrowding at Dooradoyle's Emergency Department was not consistent with a human-rights based approach to care. According to HIQA, University Hospital Limerick's Emergency Department has planned capacity for only 49 service users, but last year an average of 219 patients atended the ED every single day. Despite this, a Clare member of the Oireachtas Health Committee claims reopening a 24/7 Accident Emergency Department in Ennis goes against the wishes of the INMO and the Irish Medical Organisation. There are currently two-new 96 bed blocks planned for UHL which promise to increase bed capacity by 167 in real terms by 2027. But Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway believes until the clinical advice says otherwise, commitment to a third new 96 bed-block at UHL is the most practical solution for now. The Health Minister has commissioned a review though led by MidWest Regional Healthcare Executive Officer Sandra Broderick, that will analyse if another A&E is needed at either Ennis, Nenagh and St.Johns. HIQA's latest report found once again though that patient flow continues to be ineffectively managed at the region's main hospital. Speaking on the floor of the Dáil, Stephen Donnelly says the issue needs to be urgently resolved to improve patient outcomes at the hospital. A Clare Independent TD though believes the Minister must inject as much funding as possible into Ennis Hospital in order to maximise capacity there. Kilrush Deputy Violet Anne-Wynne claims that contrary to government predictions, the second 96-bed block currently planned for UHL is not due to come on stream until the third quarter of 2028. She insists that capital investment is needed in Ennis now as the reopening of the A&E is inevitable.