Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have raised the issue before of an independent review of University Limerick Hospitals Group, which includes the most consistently overcrowded hospital in the country. The Taoiseach agreed the proposal had some merit and would be considered but I have not heard back about it. Since then, an expert team has been sent in by the Minister for Heath, Deputy Donnelly, to ease overcrowding. I assume that expert team is firefighting, just like management there, in terms of the day-to-day issues of trying to treat people rather than taking a strategic view of what is required into the future. The issue is particularly so now that the elective hospital that was proposed by some of the Government's backbenchers as a possible solution has been ruled out by the Minister. Will the Taoiseach appoint somebody or have an expert review commissioned to take a strategic view of what can be done to ease overcrowding, including, if necessary, the upgrading of one of the other hospitals in the area or an increase in their workload? The current situation is unsustainable.

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