Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank all of the witnesses very much for their presentations today. I was watching from my office because I have been in and out of the Chamber. I will confine my questions to University Hospital Limerick, UHL. Senator Conway has already asked some of the questions I wanted to ask. There are 562 beds in the hospital. An extra 60 have recently been provided. It has been stated over and over again how they have not been of benefit with regard to the number of people on trolleys and waiting lists. It has been acknowledged this morning that UHL has some of the longest waits on trolleys.

I want to look at the area of neurology nurses, of whom there is a shortage. An extra three were taken on in UHL recently. Sometimes, if people can be treated and given pain management, they do not necessarily need to be taken into hospital. Is that an area that needs further investment? I know there is still a shortage.

How many beds do the witnesses believe are needed in the UHL group, which covers six hospitals? St. John's Hospital only has ten beds for procedures. There was a proposal at one stage when Deputy Harris was the Minister for Health. Consideration was given to including 120 replacement beds in the capital programme. There was room on site for them. These 120 beds would also accommodate those who were already there, leaving approximately 90 beds in the hospital for procedures. Do the witnesses have any comments in that regard?