Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019
40. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided for a new MRI machine for University Hospital Limerick in order to address overcrowding in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40959/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to provisional HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 17% increase in patients waiting on trolleys year to date in UHL ED in September 2019 compared to the same period last year. In the month of September 2019, there were 897 patients counted on trolleys in UHL, which was a 28% increase compared to the previous month.
It is acknowledged that this is unacceptably high and the HSE are actively working with the University Limerick Hospital Group to ease congestion in UHL with a focus on facilitating transfers to Level 2 hospitals, assistance from rehabilitation units and Community Health Organisation services, and prioritisation of diagnostics to aid inpatient discharges.
UL Hospital Group have reported that indications for an MRI scan have greatly increased over the last 15 years and that an additional MRI scanner would have an immediate benefit in faster discharge of patients and reducing admissions. Proposals for funding of a second MRI machine and replacement of the existing scanner have been made by UHL. The HSE will have to consider the proposal in the context of the budget process.
