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

I thank the Minister of State for his response. After what I have heard, I am not convinced that the situation will improve anytime soon, unfortunately. I assume the figures were supplied by the Minister or the Department of Health. I notice he is using different figures from those he used when he sat on this side of the House. I will use the same figures we have all used over the years, which are the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, figures. The trolley figures in Limerick have not reduced at all, unfortunately. I wish they had. We know they are not just figures; these are people we know. They are often family members, relatives or neighbours. They are often elderly people and are often in distress.

The knock-on effects of the capacity challenges can have a real impact on patients. At UHL, this is most profoundly seen in the outpatient waiting lists. As of 26 January this year, there were 29,027 adults on waiting lists, of whom 5,787 had been waiting for 18 months or longer. Heartbreakingly, there are 4,055 children on outpatient waiting lists at the hospital, of whom 668 have been waiting for 18 months or longer for their appointments - these are children. The time is long past for this crisis to be solved. The reports of last year - the HIQA inspection, which was a damning inspection of the hospital, and the Deloitte report - showed an array of issues and problems that need to be addressed at the hospital as a matter of urgency. However, I see nothing in the response this morning.

The emergency department does not have the capacity to cater for the current volume of presentations. We all agree on that. However, this was predicted when we closed down the accident and emergency departments in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John's hospitals. The powerful letter signed by 87 consultants in relation to inpatient care in UHL noted that there are, on average, 240 presentations a day at the emergency department, which is designed to facilitate a maximum of 190 presentations. That is the problem. What message does the Minister of State have for the people of Limerick and the mid-west region who desperately want to have an emergency department at their local hospital that is fit for purpose and to get the respect and treatment they deserve?

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