Cathal Crowe
Question:593. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify why the Midwest is the only CHO without a Model 3 hospital. [2493/24]
View answerTuesday, 23 January 2024
Questions (593)
Written answers
My Department continues to work closely with the HSE and the University Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) in the provision of acute services in the Midwest region. This has included significant and sustained investment in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and the Model 2 hospitals in this region. There are currently no plans to introduce a Model 3 hospital.
In 2013, the Smaller Hospitals Framework defined the role of smaller hospitals and outlined the need for both smaller and larger hospitals to operate within Hospital Groups. This Framework provided a stronger role for smaller hospitals, like Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals, in delivering a higher volume of less complex care in many cases closer to patients’ homes. It also ensures that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in a larger hospital environment.
Within ULHG, there are two Model 2 Hospitals, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. St John's Hospital is classified as a Model 2S Hospital, i.e. St. John's can carry out intermediate surgery, which requires in-patient stay and accommodation in addition to day case surgery. These hospitals play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality patient care within the region, alongside Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, University Maternity Hospital Limerick and UHL.
There has been significant recent investment into the Model 2 Hospitals in the region to further extend and enhance acute services. This includes investment in the new €2m purpose-built Injury Unit at Ennis Hospital, which opened in 2022. Additional funding of €5.2m was provided in 2023 to extend the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) opening hours across Nenagh, Ennis and St John's to 12 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Model 2 hospitals accept transfers of appropriate patients from UHL on a daily basis. These patients can either be stepped down from an inpatient ward in UHL or they may, where a clinician has decided it is appropriate, transfer to Ennis, Nenagh or St John's directly from the Emergency Department (ED) in UHL.
In January and February 2023 a 112/999 pathway was introduced for all three MAUs. This allows patients that meet agreed clinical criteria to be transferred by ambulance and treated in a Model 2 hospital. This pathway will result in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, will reduce patient presentations to EDs, and will release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls. The MAUs in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals treat patients referred by GPs, ShannonDoc, and now National Ambulance Service paramedics. 112/999 patients that do not meet these clinical criteria will continue to be transported to EDs for assessment and treatment.
To increase capacity within UHL, there has been significant capital investment, including two separate rapid-build projects, providing 38 additional inpatient beds, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the opening of a new 60-bed modular ward block in 2021. Work commenced on new 96-bed ward block in September 2022. It is anticipated that this much-needed additional bed capacity for the Midwest will become operational in mid-2025. Enabling works have begun on a second 96-bed block.
In addition, planning for a Surgical Hub for Limerick will provide for two new operating theatres and two procedure rooms in a state-of-the-art development on the Scoil Carmel site. This development will improve access and reduce waiting lists within the region.
All of these targeted developments will improve the overall health system in the region.