Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the concerns of the local community and the pressures on the staff. Significant resources are being invested in University Hospital Limerick, which has seen an increase in the workforce of more than 160 whole-time equivalents since the end of 2019. Safer staffing levels for ED nursing staff have been reviewed and national approval was received to recruit additional staff nurses. Recruitment for these posts is complete, with 21.5 staff nurses in post since September 2023. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, recently opened new theatres, wards and clinical areas at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, including the development of an ambulatory trauma service that facilitates the transfer of trauma patients from UHL for surgery and recovery, improving patient flow and ED congestion.

A key part of the solution is additional beds for Limerick, and 98 new inpatient beds have opened in UHL since the start of 2020. Construction on the new 96-single bed inpatient block commenced in October 2022 and it is anticipated this much-needed additional bed capacity for the mid-west will become operational in mid-2025. Additional works for the second 96-bed inpatient block will, pending planning permission approval, be carried out directly adjacent to the 96-bed block under construction.

Reform of service delivery as outlined in Sláintecare is vital to deal with the increased demand. This includes the expansion of community care and other measures providing people with the care they need outside of ED and improving patient flow and discharge from hospital with more home support packages and nursing home supports. The matter of ED performance is under constant review by the Minister and the Department of Health through ongoing engagement with the HSE. I assure all Members, including the Deputy as a local TD, that the Government and the Minister for Health are committed to improving ED performance in Limerick and the wider mid-west.

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