Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 May 2022
66. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the way that he proposes to build additional capacity in Ennis General Hospital and the other model 2 hospitals in the mid-west region, including Nenagh and St. John’s, to alleviate pressure on University Hospital Limerick. [26520/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent years, there has been significant investment and development in the University of Limerick Hospital Group to improve access and patient flow and to provide additional infrastructure and services right across the Group. These include:
- The new Outpatients Department at Ennis Hospital opened on Monday, March 29th 2021. The new OPD in Ennis has 15 clinical rooms, in addition to a phlebotomy bay, four waiting areas, offices and staff changing rooms.
- The new Outpatients Department at Nenagh Hospital opened recently, allowing the enhancement of facilities for outpatients in Nenagh in the long term. The development includes a dedicated Ophthalmology Injection Suite.
- ULHG has also engaged with the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme to establish ambulatory gynaecological and fertility services in Nenagh. The ambulatory gynaecology clinic and the regional fertility hub became operational in 2022. The ambulatory gynaecology service is expected to significantly reduce the number of patients waiting for gynaecology appointments across the Group.
- ULHG recently opened newly developed inpatient accommodation at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital. ‘The Maigue Unit’, is a modern, state-of-the-art 24 single room ward complex, and includes a new operating theatre suite.
- In total, 98 new beds were added to UHL by the end of 2020. A suite of 24 single rooms were completed on the UHL site and there is a dedicated Haematology Oncology Unit. A separate temporary 14-bed single room block has also been completed.
- The new Injury Unity in Ennis Hospital was handed over to the HSE on the 15th December 2021. The doors of the new €2m Injury Unit at Ennis Hospital opened on Friday April 8th, bringing an immediate improvement in the clinical environment and experience for healthcare staff and the thousands of patients who use this service every year..
- The development of the new four-storey, 96 single bed acute inpatient ward block extension at University Hospital Limerick has full planning permission, fire certification and is fully designed. It is anticipated that the works contract will be awarded in early Quarter 2 2022 subject to HSE Board approval and funding availability.
My Department and I remain committed to improving services at University Limerick Hospital Group and ensuring patient-centred care for the people of the Mid-West. The Department will continue to work with the HSE to ensure services, facilities and patient experience at ULHG continue to be developed into the future. As the UHLG are responsible for the management of capacity across the Group, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
