Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the presence of the Minister for Health to take the matter. I thank him for being here. It is obvious that all five Members who are raising the matter have the same goal, which is to make the accident and emergency unit in University Hospital, Limerick, a pleasant place for patients. We want to get rid of the overcrowding which has reduced privacy and bring dignity back to patients again. That is extremely important.

I welcome the HIQA report, which is timely. We all knew about it anyway, but it is time for us to work together to get a solution which takes us over the next two years. Colleagues have spoken about fast-tracking the emergency department at Limerick and I certainly agree that it is an option we should consider. We should be looking at further options to reduce the crowds coming into the accident and emergency unit in Limerick. It is quite obvious that the hospital is over capacity. We know there is a problem at University Hospital, Limerick, and that there is a problem trying to fill doctor positions. There is a real problem for staff who work in atrocious conditions. Morale is very low in the hospital.

This is about good management of the system and trying to make good what is in place. There must be a re-examination of the whole system to see if the HSE got it wrong in relation to reconfiguration. These are all issues we must examine. A meeting will take place at the hospital next Monday morning for the Oireachtas Members from the region. I welcome the opportunity to be at the meeting to raise my concerns about reconfiguration. I am also anxious to hear today what the Minister has to say on the current situation. That is important. It is also important that we all work together to ensure that the conditions patients are experiencing in the accident and emergency unit are alleviated. It is totally unacceptable. We are all here with the single goal of making the accident and emergency unit a better place.

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