Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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314. To ask the Minister for Health if appropriate staff will be allocated to alleviate pressure on beds which is the main cause of the trolley crisis in University Hospital Limerick in view of the inequality of whole-time equivalent front-line posts in the health service in the mid-west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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University Hospital Limerick was identified as a focus site under the Winter Initiative in terms of ED congestion. As such, UHL has put in place improvement plans setting out specific mitigating actions to improve patient flow and improve processes in the ED. In addition, 17 short-stay beds were opened in UHL under the Winter Initiative, and the Hospital Group was also supported over the recent winter months with additional home support packages and transitional care beds. UHL is now fully engaged with the National Patient Flow Improvement Project, as a pilot site, to further improve processes within the hospital.

As Minister for Health, I am committed to continuing the effort to address overcrowding in our Emergency Departments, and in particular, the capacity of the system to respond during periods of peak demand, in this context, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019. A submission received from the HSE in this regard, which includes proposals in relation to UHL, is currently under consideration by my Department. The HSE is currently reviewing proposals to ensure appropriate staffing.

In relation to the particular query raised with regards to staffing at UHL, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.