Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise a matter in respect of Limerick. St. John's Hospital announced yesterday that it is closing 20 beds permanently on the ground floor. My understanding is that discussions were ongoing between the hospital and the university hospitals group. There appears to be a difference in the information being given by both sides. I urge that both sides would re-engage in talks and that a mechanism would be found to ensure the 20 beds are opened. If the closures are due to funding we must examine the matter. People in Limerick and the mid-west know that one of our key problems in health care is the lack of bed capacity and it is not acceptable that 20 beds on the ground floor in St. John's Hospital are being closed.

I already spoke to the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, who is inquiring into the matter. We need people to talk to each other. We must find out the precise circumstances. We have been informed that 15 of the 20 beds are being closed because the hospital was unable to recruit nursing staff and now 20 beds are being closed permanently. That is not acceptable. I want the St. John's Hospital management and the HSE's university hospitals group to resume talks to find a solution which we can all work towards to ensure the 20 beds can be opened as quickly as possible. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is involved. The people of Limerick deserve no less.