Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I again raise the issue of the large numbers of people waiting for beds at Sligo University Hospital, SUH. Since January of this year, SUH has had the third highest number of people waiting for beds. The headline for figures for Cork are worse, but bed capacity in Cork is more than twice that of Limerick so in real terms, in terms of capacity, SUH is second only to Limerick. Time and again I have been told the winter plan will deal with the problem. However, seven of the proposed actions in the winter plan for SUH entail recruitment of more staff. That will not happen in time. It is winter already. The INMO has proposed a four-pronged approach, including the use of private hospitals for non-urgent elective care. Will the Minister use private hospitals right now? If he will not do it nationally, will he at least do it for the five worst-hit hospitals, two of which are in the north west, in Sligo and Letterkenny? The Minister mentioned step-down facilities. I remind him that 16 private voluntary care homes have closed this year already.

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