Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Deputy Leader and wish him all the best. I look forward to working with him in future. We have worked well together in the past and he will do a fantastic job as Deputy Leader.

I am continually raising the matter of University Hospital Limerick, but today I wish to highlight it in a good way because of the new virtual ward and remote patient-monitoring service launched there. Doccla and the HSE have partnered in this endeavour to allow hospital-led treatment for patients at home. The first two wards are to be launched shortly. This initiative will provide acute care, monitoring, and treatment via remote healthcare as an alternative to traditional inpatient care. This development is most welcome. Many changes have happened in UHL recently and the institution is moving forward in a positive light.

I was over at the launch today of the pre-budget submission of the Alzheimer Society of Ireland. One thing highlighted was the shortage of specialist nurses in hospitals. They can help to keep people at home because they can give advice over the phone regarding any issues or assure family members in cases where there may be issues around medication. These nurses are trained specialists, and while they are in some hospitals in Ireland, they are not in all. They need to be put in each of the CHO areas. It is an issue the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, should come to the Chamber to discuss because it is extremely important. There is not a family in Ireland that has not had a member or close friend impacted by Alzheimer's or dementia.