Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The report in today's newspaper about University Hospital Limerick makes very stark reading. I have had contact from people who were there as patients in the past 24 hours and from staff. Eighty people are on trolleys and it reached a national all-time high of 82 in the past month. It is frightening to think that we are not into the winter months and yet 80 people are on trolleys.

A person with a family member who is very seriously ill contacted my office. While I appreciate the patient had to be moved to another hospital because of the nature of their illness, the centre of excellence for the person's illness is actually in University Hospital Limerick. While I know it was for the person's safety, it is not acceptable that they were moved.

The injury units in Nenagh and Ennis are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the unit in St. John's is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. However, we need to look at making better use of the other complementary hospitals to University Hospital Limerick because every day, the numbers are increasing. It is quite serious at this stage and is at breaking point.

I asked the Minister to visit the hospital unannounced because I always felt when his visits were announced in the past, certain things were hidden. I understand from speaking to him that he discovered things that might not have come to light, had he announced he was going. There needs to be a plan. The matter was raised at the recent Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health. I understand the extra scanner is under way. It might be a portable one, but anything that will ease the plight of the staff and really ill patients is welcome.