‘HSE biggest mistake ever made’
FIANNA Fail, Labour and Independent members of Limerick County Council have come out in opposition to the taking over of the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle by a private company.
The HSE has also been referred to as “the biggest mistake that was ever made” in the health system.
Three UK based and one Irish company are currently bidding to take over the management of the hospital for up to 15 months.
In raising a motion at a meeting of the council to call on the HSE and Minister for Health to resolve the nurses dispute in the interest of patient and staff safety, Fianna Fail Cllr Eddie Wade, said that privatisation at the hospital “would be a disaster”.
“Anyone with experience of the Regional is full of praise for the staff,” he said.
“I understand they have agreed to suspend industrial action for a period because they believed patients were at risk.
“Once talks take place, it should lead to progress.
“I’m worried that privatisation will come in; I’m completely opposed to it.
“If it’s true it would be a disaster”.
Cllr Patrick C Fitzgerald said that the Dooradoyle hospital had to cope with an influx of patients following the closure of Barringtons, St. John’s A&E and Nenagh and Ennis emergency departments.
“The patients were all transferred to the Regional but the money didn’t follow them.
“Now there’s talk of bringing in new management from overseas.
“There’s no trust in our own, who are quite capable”.
Labour’s Cllr Tomás Hannon referred to “huge problems in health”.
“People are going to the Regional when they should be going to their doctors.
“I’m totally opposed to full privatisation”.
Fine Gael Cllr John Sheahan, said that many people were “against politicians because of the turmoil we’re in”.
He added that the HSE had taken away the decision from people at the forefront of local communities, i.e. local councillors.
“There was a time when local authorities had full control of the health service.
“The HSE West all stops in Galway.
“Management is all over the place; there are too many tiers.
“We will see repercussion if it’s not sorted out”.
Cllr Wade concurred: “The biggest mistake that was ever made was the HSE.
“At the old meeting of the Mid Western Health Board, work was actually done”.
