LIMERICK Deputy Willie O’Dea has asked whether a new site has yet been identified for a new building in the vicinity of University Hospital Limerick.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy O’Dea TD questioned the Taoiseach on the announcement by the Minister for Health relating to hospital facilities in the Mid West.
“I welcome the acceptance by the government of the Minister for Health’s proposals relating to hospital facilities in the mid-west. These proposals were based on the HIQA report, which stressed patient safety,” Deputy O’Dea said.
“It is now proposed that a new building be erected in the vicinity of the Dooradoyle site. Has a site been identified and acquired for that building? When the Minister was asked about this yesterday, she said she could not talk about it due to commercial considerations.
“Surely there are no commercial considerations in asking whether the site has been acquired, when it will be acquired and whether we will be told when it has been acquired.”
Deputy O’Dea also pushed for answers on whether the proposed project management board structure been put in place “and if not, when will it be put in place?”
“In view of the urgency of the situation and the fact the safety of patients is central to these recommendations, will the Taoiseach give the House an assurance that sufficient capital will be provided to enable this project to go ahead within the required timescale in view of the fact that the ESRI has projected that over the next 15 years, a further 600 model 4 hospital-type beds will needed in this region? This is almost double the current capacity of University Hospital Limerick”.
In answer, a spokesperson for the Minister said that the “Minister has mandated the HSE to secure an available appropriate adjacent site. I do not have the information to hand as to whether it has that site at the moment, but it has the mandate to secure the site.”
“The standard governance structure and the project board will have to be established, as required by the HSE, to explore additional opportunities to decant services away from the main Dooradoyle site.
“My understanding is the project board has not yet been established, but it will be imminently, once we get the other site. What is happening in other hospital locations is that decanting unnecessary services in an acute hospital environment – including patient records, or it could be outpatients – is working.
“To progress Option C (a new Model 3 hospital with emergency department), the Minister and the Department will develop a strategic plan for the incremental reconfiguration of and investment in healthcare services in the mid-west region. I heard it said this morning, and I do not want to name people, that this is a very welcome development.”