Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

First, I wish to acknowledge that the lifting of many of the Covid restrictions has been welcome news for citizens. People are beginning to return to their pre-Covid activities and this should be welcomed. The vast majority of people have been terrific. We looked after our neighbours and we followed the health advice which was asked of us. We all together have saved many lives. We should be proud of that. Well done to everybody.

The last two years have been a very difficult time for most of our people. We missed family funerals, weddings and events. Many of us were not with our loved ones when they died. We lost people we love. People lost their jobs and many lost part or most of their income. However, we now move into what will hopefully be a much brighter future.

If the Covid pandemic served any useful purpose, it was to highlight the abysmal state of our health services. Waiting lists were long before Covid and they have lengthened. The number of people being treated on hospital trolleys in hospital corridors was high prior to Covid and that has increased. The issues of the health service need to be addressed urgently. The numbers presenting to ICU with Covid symptoms have reduced so we can no longer hide behind the excuse of Covid for the failures of our health system.

I represent the constituency of Limerick which has consistently had the highest number of people on trolleys. This is not due to some sudden surge; it is always the most overcrowded. In the first month of this year there were 1,300 people treated on hospital trolleys at University Hospital Limerick. It is an utter disgrace. Staff at our hospitals, on a good day, have very challenging jobs. Having to cope with such levels of overcrowding only adds to the challenges of their roles. It is a credit to these staff that they keep showing up. They have done tremendous work in managing and treating the large number of people presenting at the hospital. However, they need a break. Staff at UHL have faced two years of working in the most challenging of environments, with the danger of infection always looming. These were the toughest of times for healthcare workers, hospital staff and their families. Now that we are exiting the period of Covid restrictions we need to ensure that the capacity and overcrowding issues are addressed in their workplace.

A 96-bed unit is to be delivered at UHL but construction will take at least 18 months to complete. The unit will not be operational until summer 2023 at the earliest. Staff and patients need solutions in the interim. I have pleaded with the Minister for Health and other Cabinet Ministers for efforts to shorten this time. I have received no definitive response. I have written to the Minister for Health on the challenges faced by staff, as recently as last week. To date I have not received a response from the Minister. I have advised him that I am open to meeting him, with other local Oireachtas Members, in Limerick to discuss what steps can be taken to fix the issues at the hospital.

Recent research from the UK indicates that there is one excess death for every 67 patients who stay in the emergency department for eight to 12 hours. It is believed that over 30% of patients were waiting to be discharged or admitted after waiting for more than six hours in Irish emergency departments.

As restrictions are lifted, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Limerick hospitals. For many, these past two years will have been the most difficult of their professional career. From treating those with Covid, to supporting those who could not spend their last moments with their families, they have gone above and beyond for us all. While we have issues at the University Hospital, we can be immensely proud of the contribution of our local health care professionals during this most challenging of periods. Now is the time to address the issues of capacity and overcrowding so that these staff can operate in the best environment available. They deserve no less. Let us deliver a national health service that is fit for purpose as part of a true legacy of Covid-19.

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