Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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17. To ask the Minister for Health when he expects to see an improvement in services at University Hospital Limerick, especially in the emergency department and in the numbers on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36570/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The UL Hospitals Group is currently performing much better than other regions or hospital groups in managing wait times. Plans are in place to ensure that by year end, all appointments offered will be within the maximum permissible waiting times.

The Group has developed a comprehensive plan to manage the expected increase in ED presentations over the coming months. Key measures include:

- recruitment of 124 extra personnel to staff extra beds across all areas;

- opening of 24 new inpatient beds in November, to coincide with the opening of the Leben building, the first phase of which will care for stroke/neurology and adult CF patients;

- re-opening of a 24 bed isolation ward following refurbishment;

- development of a five day specialty geriatric ward at St John's Hospital;

- reservation of 20 acute medical unit and medical assessment unit slots across the group daily for patients aged over 75;

- establishment of rapid access clinics;

- opening a second emergency theatre at weekends;

- appointment of a second community discharge nurse; and

- prioritising diagnostics for in-patients to facilitate earlier discharge.

The Deputy will also be aware that a new emergency department is under construction at University of Limerick Hospital. The new facility, which will provide a much improved and larger facility for patients and staff, is scheduled to open in early 2017.