Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, I welcome this opportunity to address the House on the issue raised by Deputies Joe Carey and Tom Neville. I commend Deputy Joe Carey on his great work on health in County Clare and Deputy Tom Neville on his support for services throughout Limerick.

The Government is committed to breaking the cycle of overcrowding in our health service. Emergency department overcrowding has been linked to many adverse outcomes, such as longer wait times, worse patient outcomes, treatment delays and growing staff and patient dissatisfaction. The emergency department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with approximately 67,000 attendances annually. Demand for ED services at the hospital continues to rise, with an increase of 6% in ED attendances in UHL in 2017 compared with 2016.

The Department of Health undertook a health service capacity review in line with the commitment in A Programme for a Partnership Government, the findings of which provide an evidence base for future capacity decisions. If reforms are implemented, the report concludes that nearly 2,600 additional hospital beds will be required by 2031. The national development plan provides for the full 2,600 beds by 2028, three years ahead of schedule. The national development plan announcement earlier this year includes provision for a 96-bed replacement ward block at University Hospital Limerick. The HSE has provided capital funding in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project. Further funding will be considered in the context of the capital allocation for health, having regard to the availability of funding and the level of contractual commitments already in place. Subject to funding and the successful completion of the planning, design and tender phases, it is currently anticipated that construction is unlikely to commence before 2021.

Given the current pressures on our hospital emergency departments, the Department of Health has engaged with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019. A proposal from the HSE, which identifies approximately 600 additional acute beds and 290 additional residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020, is under consideration in the Department. These proposals include a 60-bed modular unit at University Hospital Limerick.

Therefore, while I understand the Deputies' wish to have a clear response today on the provision of additional beds in UHL to alleviate the ongoing pressures on the ED, I must await the outcome of the processes currently under way. These include matters which are being considered in the context of the 2019 Estimates process. I will convey the Deputies' sensible concerns and suggestions to the Minister.

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