Health Services

Wednesday, 8 May 2024

Questions (597)

Martin Browne

Question:

597. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Health to provide a detailed account of the work to be undertaken by the support team recently announced to address the current pressures on health services in the mid-west region; to provide any terms of reference under which they operate; to outline how their role relates to UHL, Ennis Hospital, St John’s Hospital and Nenagh Hospital individually; if the team is examining the role and the current circumstances relating to community health care provision and the nature of the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20683/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

Following on from measures announce recently to help alleviate the problems in University Hospital Limerick, the Minister for Health and the Chief Executive of the HSE also announced a support team to address the current pressures on health services in the Mid West region. The team is made up of:

• Ms Grace Rothwell, National Director

• Ms. Orla Kavanagh Director of Nursing & Integration at Waterford University Hospital

• Retired Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Fergal Hickey.

The team will begin work immediately and in the short term will work with the Regional Executive Officer and her wider team using internal mechanisms within the HSE to help improve patient flow in the region.

As elements of your question relate to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible