Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Like a broken record, I am compelled to raise the issue of healthcare in the mid-west region for the second week. Today, we have 78 people abandoned on trolleys. We heard the recent specific concerns from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, about paediatric care in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, as its members are seeing an increase in the number of children on trolleys.

I have also heard that not a brass penny has been allocated to Ennis hospital since it started taking emergency patients, even though we got assurances from the HSE that all would be in hand. Not one day surgery could take place in the month of January, as a total of 1,180 people have languished on trolleys. I also hear that surgical patients are now on the forgotten lists of the UL Hospitals Group.

I also understand the Tánaiste will visit UHL in the coming weeks. Will he ensure that he visits unannounced and that additional beds and resources are provided for Ennis hospital?

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