Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to ask about something that has been a feature in the mid-west region in recent weeks. The new 60 bed block in University Hospital Limerick has opened and it is great to see it. It is alleviating some of the pressure in the hospital. A key issue raised with me by patients and some staff is that there is no discharge co-ordinator in the new block. During peak Covid when patients are well enough to go home or leave the hospital environment they may need support from public health nurses and their local health centre but there is no discharge co-ordinator to put such a plan in place. People are being moved home from a hospital environment in a taxi, car or sometimes an ambulance with no plan in place. Mr. Reid may not have the answer today but I implore him, as the helmsman of the HSE, to ensure this key appointment is made to ensure it works smoothly. Is Mr. Reid aware of this issue? He may not be but I ask him to respond briefly.