David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am all for reform in that hospital and every other hospital, but I was one of those members, including Deputy Crowe, who attended the briefing for the Oireachtas health committee. We met with the head of the HSE and clinicians, hospital management and healthcare trade unions. All of them, to a man and a woman, told us that the big problem in Limerick is capacity. We need reforms but every single day there are patients who are deemed sick enough to be admitted to a bed but the beds are not there. Approximately 200 staff are needed, including more nurses in the emergency department, according to the INMO.

We also need to look at the other areas. When the Minister says that the hospital has received more staff than any other hospital, that is because there is no other model 3 hospital. It is the only major hospital in the entire region. Of course, it will get, and needs, more staff. The problem is it is struggling. I hope that the additional beds and the staff will be the only solution that is necessary but I genuinely believe that we have to look at other hospitals in the region, and from a health, medical and clinical perspective, whether it is safe to do so, to serious look at a model 3 hospital for another part of that region as a prospect.

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