Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Quinlivan for the timely opportunity to address the House on capacity at University Hospital Limerick. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, who sends her apologies that she cannot be here to provide an update on the measures that are being taken to alleviate overcrowding.

Since the Deputy last raised a Topical Issue on this matter in July, the work to increase capacity and alleviate overcrowding at UHL has continued at pace. In May 2024, HIQA was requested to undertake an independent and expert review of urgent and emergency healthcare services in the mid-west by the then Minister for Health. The priority for this work is ensuring safe, quality acute care. HIQA has today published this review and the Minister for Health briefed the Government on the report this morning. She also placed on the record of the House during Questions on Promised Legislation her points regarding this publication.

The Minister and the Government are concerned at the significant challenges being experienced in Limerick and the wider mid-west, and the impact this is having on patients and their families in the region. I thank the hard-working front-line staff at the hospital, who continue to deliver excellent care for patients every day. The Minister and her officials will now consider the reports and advice provided, including the three options that were identified. The Minister will report back to the Government on these considerations. As the Deputy will appreciate, the reports and analyses involved are extensive and involve a stakeholder consultation, regulatory inspections, data analysis and international evidence reviews. I acknowledge the substantial work that has been undertaken by all of those who conducted and took part in this review.

HIQA’s analysis finds that inpatient capacity in the region needs to be increased to meet current and projected demand. The report identifies three options, including expanding capacity at the Dooradoyle site, extending the UHL hospital campus, and developing a model 3 hospital and, consequently, a second ED for the region. The HIQA review notes that real improvements are continuing to be made at UHL and across the mid-west. This work of improvement and reform will go on while the HIQA findings are being considered.

As the Deputy is aware, through Government investment, 140 new beds have opened in UHL since 2020. This includes the successful delivery of two fast-tracked 16-bed inpatient blocks, which opened in December 2024 and in June this year. More new bed blocks are being developed, which will provide up to 292 additional beds by 2028. This includes two 96-bed blocks, the first of which is starting to receive patients this week. This increase in capacity will go towards reducing the number of people waiting on trolleys. The opening of this new 96-bed block will be a major boost to increasing capacity at UHL. I know it will be welcomed by all the people of the mid-west.

Bed capacity is being further expanded throughout the region through the acute hospital inpatient bed capacity expansion plan. This will deliver 572 new inpatient beds in the region by 2031, including 24 new beds at Nenagh Hospital, 48 new beds at Ennis Hospital and 42 new beds at St. John’s Hospital. I would like to reassure the Deputy and all patients in the mid-west that substantial work is ongoing to improve healthcare services in the region.

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