Alan Kelly
Ceist:28. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ease the record overcrowding in University Hospital Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20491/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 May 2019
Ceisteanna (28)
Freagraí scríofa
I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.
Limerick was identified as one of the 9 sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full-system, patient-focused response. Recognising this, in the Winter Plan, the HSE sought to maximise the use of existing resources across hospital groups and CHOs and to target additional investment at both hospital and community services and supports.
The range and prioritisation of measures was a matter for University Hospital Limerick and CHO Mid-West. Key measures included:
- additional home support packages and transitional care beds to support people to leave the hospital and return home;
- extended opening hours in the AMAU;
- opening of a surgical short stay unit;
- additional access to diagnostics.
The NTPF established a fund of €1m to support the HSE Winter Plan with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. 6,350 vouchers had been issued to Emergency Departments for diagnostics as of 28 April 2019, including 1,050 vouchers issued to UHL.
Since 2017, an additional 25 beds have opened in Limerick, including 8 as part of this year's Winter Plan.
A capital budget of €19.5 million has been approved for the provision of a modular 60-bed inpatient ward block at UHL, with funding of €10 million allocated in 2019. Enabling works commenced in March 2019, and the HSE advise that the main works are expected to start at the end of May 2019.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a 96-bed replacement ward block in Limerick and capital funding was provided in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project.
Finally, the HSE is currently undertaking a review of performance across all Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisations over the winter period. The HSE advise that this process will include an independent expert review of clinical, analytical and management capability in University Hospital Limerick and CHO Mid West and the other 8 individual focus sites and their relevant CHOs.