Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister. I acknowledge my colleagues, Senators Conway, Byrne and Ahearn, for tabling this comprehensive Private Members' motion. It is unusual to have such a specific regional topic brought before the Houses. It is important to acknowledge that, because the Fine Gael group decided to use its slot, which comes up every number of weeks, to highlight a specific hospital in a specific region. It is also important to highlight the issues of concern in University Hospital Limerick and in Ennis and Nenagh, as Senator Conway has done in the Joint Committee on Health. It is a very important topic, which is why we are discussing it. It has generated a lot of publicity in recent months for the wrong reasons. I pity the staff, who work in difficult circumstances in all of our hospitals but particularly in hospitals that are under pressure and have been in the headlines in recent months, as Limerick has been. There are fluctuations at different times in different hospitals, but it is unusual for there to be such a prolonged period of problems as there has been in Limerick. It is unfair on both the staff and the patients and puts pressure on them. Unfortunately, I have even heard of people in Galway who have decided not to attend hospitals because they are listening to true stories about the pressure Limerick is under. That is a concern I have.

The motion lays out the comprehensive investment that has taken place in Limerick over a number of years and in the associated hospitals in Ennis, Croom and Nenagh. It is important to acknowledge the investment that has taken place because there has been an accusation that members of Government voted for budgets. Certainly, in the case of Fine Gael, we have voted, since 2011, for budgets and capital plans that have allowed for investment, and that has to be acknowledged. However, there is a need for more beds and more capacity such as the 60-bed ward that was completed and opened. There is a need for additional investment, as highlighted. I note too the reference to the reconfiguration of the vacated emergency department. That was done in Galway and the additional ten beds have improved the situation there. Looking at that example and at other hospitals, the provision of small numbers of additional beds, where it can be done and they can be staffed safely, improves the situation. However, there is clearly a need for additional capacity and additional beds in Limerick, and I commend the Senators on their contributions.

In the case of the Saolta hospital group, we can see the difficulties general and community hospitals and nursing homes have in finding staff. Despite international trawling, the last notice I received showed 13 empty beds in Áras Mhic Dara sa Cheathrú Rua. Tá fadhbanna ansin ó thaobh na ndeacrachtaí atá ann chun altraí a fháil don ospidéal agus don ionad sin agus sa Chlochán, áit a bhfuil easpa foirne freisin ó thaobh altraí. Tá spás, airgead agus leapacha ann ach nach bhfuil Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte in ann altraí a fháil. It is a staffing and recruitment difficulty in terms of being able to get nurses. For example in Clifden, County Galway, they put out a specific call for staff. There were a number of expressions of interest and a number of people called to interview.Five were offered jobs. One accepted a job offer but would not be available until 2024. That is one specific regional hospital in Galway. It goes to show the difficulties in recruiting. Once upon a time, it was the case in this country that there were no jobs. Now there are jobs available across a variety of sectors but it is difficult to recruit people. We need to continue looking out for international nurses to fill those vacancies because it is hugely important that they are filled. The situation has a knock-on effect on the emergency department and the discharge of patients. That knock-on effect puts emergency departments under pressure, of which we have seen many example. The HSE has stated that we must learn from both success and failure. Which hospitals have performed well this year? I know not all hospitals are the same, but which hospitals have performed well in recent months and what lessons can they give to other hospitals that are having difficulties? University Hospital Waterford has been mentioned as a successful example. What is the hospital doing that explains its success? Is it a management issue or a capacity issue? Why are other hospitals, such as University Hospital Limerick, falling down? I again commend my colleagues on bringing forward this motion.