Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the update. I acknowledge the extensive investment the mid-west received in the course of the previous Government. When I heard the Minister of State call it all out for us, it sounded very impressive, but the mid-west was already at a significant disadvantage in terms of hospital care and the efforts made thus far have not yet brought it to a par with the rest of the country. Without a second emergency department in the region, I fear UHL will remain overwhelmed and the situation may worsen as our population ages and grows.

Senator Dee Ryan: I thank the Minister of State for the update. I acknowledge the significant investment the mid-west has received in the course of the previous Government. It is extensive. When I hear the Minister of State call it all out as he has just done it sounds very impressive but ew were already at a significant disadvantage in terms of hospital care. The efforts made those for have not yet brought us to a par with the rest of the country. Without second emergency department in the region I fear you H will remain overwhelmed and the situation may worsen as the population ages and grows.While patient flow improvements are necessary and while we need more consultants to adopt the new roster, these measures alone, however, will not address the reality of a lower number of ED beds per capitain the mid-west than any other place in the country. I stand ready to support the Minister of State and the Minister in government but I wish to get an update on the HIQA report that was commissioned last year by the then Minister, Stephen Donnelly, on accident and emergency capacity in the mid-west. I wish to discuss the matter further at the next opportunity.