Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

We all know how bad the situation is in University Hospital Limerick, UHL, which has become infamous, being possibly the worst hospital when it comes to trolley numbers, accident and emergency services, and chaos. I want to ask if the Minister for Health will make a statement on the extension of opening hours of the injury clinic in Ennis Hospital to help reduce pressure on the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick. So many injuries are happening at night time and this is plain to be seen if one is ever down in the accident and emergency services, in Limerick. It usually kicks off after 8 o'clock, much of which involves limbs being wrapped up and bashes where people are out.

While we are waiting to solve the problems of UHL, the more we can do within the counties around the hospital, including my own county, the fewer the number of people will have to go to the accident and emergency services in Limerick. We have a good new medical centre and and primary healthcare unit in Ennis. I am also wondering about the primary healthcare centres which were due in north, east, and west Clare also. In the meantime, there is a brilliant injury clinic in Ennis hospital. It will not solve all of the problems but I want to find out if there is any plan and, if there is one, when will it extend the opening hours of the injury clinic so people around Clare can go there if they happen to fall or hurt themselves after 8 o'clock at night? The period from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. cover 12 hours but many accidents happen at night time, especially with older people who may fall out of bed. The last place they want to go is down to the accident and emergency department. People now live in fear of going there and, in particular, our older population. I just want a clear answer on any plan to extend the opening hours of Ennis Injury Clinic.