Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Will the Taoiseach and the Government react to the appalling situation in the south east, especially in Tipperary, with the trolley crisis in Cork University Hospital, CUH? The number of people on trolleys last week was appalling. The figure for today in University Hospital Limerick, which serves north Tipperary, is 55 and 30 in South Tipperary General Hospital. South Tipperary General Hospital, or St. Joseph’s as I like to call it, is a much smaller building and 30 people on trolleys in that hospital is as bad as 100 in CUH because it is an old building. While I welcome that work is progressing on a 40-bed modular ward, there is no sign of staff being appointed. The winter that has just passed is the third since this was promised and it is still not delivered. This situation cannot be sustained. The staff are at breaking point and people are fearful going into accident and emergency departments. The Taoiseach will say he worked there years ago and in three other hospitals but I am talking about now. I am not complaining about last year or the year before that. It is now spring, we are heading into summer weather and there are no major scares in terms of health issues. The situation is appalling, and the pressure is ongoing on the front-line staff. It is not a good service for the people of Tipperary and I will not accept it.

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