Health Minister Defends UHL Response In Fiery Dáil Debate

Clare FM

The Health Minister has defended his Department's response to enhancing capacity, staffing and resources across the UL Hospitals Group in the face of consistent and worsening overcrowding this year. It follows a fiery debate held in the Dáil on the matter in light of the harrowing findings of former Chief Justice Frank Clarke's Report into the Death of Shannon Teenager Aoife Johnston at University Hospital Limerick. The overcrowding crisis at UHL has once again dominated headlines this week, following the publication of the Clarke Report, which determined the circumstances surrounding Aoife Johnston's death "were almost certainly avoidable". 2024 remains on course to be the worst year on record for trolley numbers at Dooradoyle with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation documenting 2,225 admitted patients without beds up to July . Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan whose party called for last night's debate insists too many families have unnecessarily lost loved ones at UHL in recent times due to the conditions. The Health Minister has defended the response made by his Department in light of recent events though. Stephen Donnelly claims the bed capacity planned for UHL alone will be the equivalent of bringing a new model 4 and model 3 hospital to the MidWest. He confirmed in the Dáil that the first of two 96 bed blocks due to come on stream at Dooradoyle will be operational by the first quarter of next year, with the second to be built by 2028. Additionally, a site for a dedicated surgical hub has been established at Scoil Carmel in Limerick, which its claimed will cater for 4,000 extra day case surgeries, 6,000 minor operations and 18,000 outpatient consultations annually. Minister Donnelly believes that a failure to reform workplace practices have been to blame for the worsening situation at UHL this year. The Department of Health has also confirmed a committee will be established to implement the recommendations of the Clarke Report. But the Minister is facing criticism from a coalition colleague for a failure to address Oireachtas members and Clare County Council on UHL's Winter plan ahead of the expected seasonal surge. Ennistymon Fine Gael Senator and Oireachtas Health Committee member Martin Conway says the delay is inexcusable.