Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to raise this important matter in the House today and thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting it for debate. The issues raised in the HIQA report on University Hospital, Limerick, confirm the unacceptable situation of overcrowding at the emergency department there. While it has been an issue for many years, overcrowding has escalated since the turn of the year. It is not acceptable that patients are left on trolleys for extended periods. It is not acceptable that vulnerable, sick and often elderly patients are crammed into a confined space and put at risk of cross infection with little or no privacy or dignity. It is not acceptable that doctors, nurses and other staff be asked to work in this type of environment.

The report is welcome and must be acted on. The HIQA report can and must be the catalyst for chance within the Limerick hospital group. All short, medium and long-term options must be explored including the provision of additional bed capacity at the site at Dooradoyle, Limerick, bringing forward the opening of the new, state-of-the-art emergency department at Limerick by cutting red tape from 2016-17, improved use of the three model-2 hospitals at Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's, and exploring the option of incorporating a model-3 hospital within the UL hospital group.

Public confidence in our health service is essential. It is critical that the issues raised by HIQA are acted on strategically. The report strengthens the hand of the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, to seek additional funding and resources. I ask that a case be made to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to seeking the required funding to enable the Minister for Health to bring about the changes which are required so that we in the mid-west region can have a functioning health service of which we can all be proud.

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