Hospital Overcrowding
97 on trolleys today at UHL in the middle of summer but the government offers no new solution when I raised issue with the Tánaiste today.
Government To Implement Proposals To Reduce ED Overcrowding
The Government today accepted my Private Members Motion seeking the implementation of a range of measures aimed at reducing pressure on overcrowded Emergency Departments across the country.
Read MoreEnnis Hospital
The Taoiseach agreed with me that capacity at Ennis Hospital has to be increased as part of the solution to overcrowding at UHL. Plans drawn up a decade ago for a new block at the back of Ennis need to be resurrected.
No new acute beds for Mid-West hospitals in 2023
No new acute beds will be opened in the Mid-West Region in 2023, according to figures released to Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara.
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HSE figures highlight “chronic underinvestment” in Mid West
Only 7 WTE (Fulltime /Whole-time Equivalent) healthcare professional positions in Acute Services were created at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) during 2022 despite UHL being the most overcrowded hospital in the country last year.
Read MoreEnnis Hospital theatres
Despite Minister Donnelly’s claim that 1,000 new posts have been created at University Hospital Limerick since March 2020, two recently upgraded theatres in Ennis Hospital have remained closed since before Christmas.
Health service in the Mid West
I spoke about the healthcare crisis in the Mid West on The Tonight Show.
Resourcing the Midwest health system
I attended a positive meeting about UHL yesterday with UL Hospitals Group management, the Health Minister, Taoiseach and fellow Oireachtas Midwest representatives. At long last, there was an acknowledgment that the Midwest hospital system is under-resourced compared to other regions of the State and that the Model 2 Hospitals, such as Ennis and Nenagh, are underutilised.
Ennis Hospital
I spoke on RTÉ Drivetime about the need to adequately resource Ennis Hospital in light of the HSE decision to sanction ambulance paramedics to bring patients directly to the facility’s medical assessment unit.
Overcrowding at UHL
Micheál Martin and his government failed the people of the Midwest by refusing to tackle the mounting problems at UHL. Leo Varadkar must now intervene.
I was shocked that the only proposal from the Government representative on today’s show was to call for mandatory face masks and “other restrictions”, and to call for young doctors and nurses to be forced to work in a chronically mismanaged health system.
University Hospital Limerick overcrowding
Chronic and persistent overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick is not being addressed.
UHL and Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach
The Tánaiste today accepted that UHL will require increased bed capacity and greater involvement from government to address the overcrowding crisis.
HIQA report into UHL overcrowding
The HIQA report into overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick points to completely inadequate capacity in the Midwest and a failure to manage existing capacity.
105 people on trolleys at UHL
Clare TD Michael McNamara today raised the issue of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick with Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Dáil today.
Speaking after the debate, Deputy McNamara said, “It is very disappointing that the Taoiseach tried to wash his hands of overcrowding in UHL today, having previously told me he’d “come back” to me with details of the expert group sent there and their terms of reference.”
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has called on the Government to publish the terms of reference for an expert team that is being deployed by the HSE to review the issues surrounding chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
UHL overcrowding
I raised the issue of ongoing overcrowding at University of Limerick with Taoiseach Micheál Martin today.
NEWSTALK – UHL Overcrowding
I spoke to Newstalk this evening about University Hospital Limerick, the most consistently overcrowded hospital in the country, and the need to develop a strategy to deliver an acceptable level of health services in the Midwest now and in the immediate future.
€9.95m Approved For Theatre Upgrade At Ennis Hospital
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a €9.95m capital budget allocation has been approved for a theatre upgrade at Ennis Hospital and that the project has already progressed to design stage.
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New Chronic Disease specialist roles to be created in Midwest
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a number of additional Clinical and Diagnostic Chronic Disease posts are being recruited for the Midwest region through the University Hospital Limerick Group.
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Chronic Disease Team to be established in Clare
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a new Chronic Disease Management Hub delivering services to patients with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and Type II Diabetes is being rolled out in County Clare.
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No new hospital beds for Midwest in 2022
No new acute, sub-acute or ICU beds will be opened in the Midwest in 2022, according to HSE figures released to Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara.
Read MoreCLARE FM – Hospital overcrowding in Mid West
HIQA is to undertake inspections of the ED at University Hospital Limerick and work with hospital management to develop a strategic plan to address capacity issues. It’s important the plan has a wider scope than the approach taken up to now.
Strategic plan to deal with UHL overcrowding
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation that HIQA is to undertake inspections of the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and work with hospital management to develop a strategic plan to address capacity issues at the Mid-West facility.
Read MoreLIVE 95 & CLARE ECHO – UHL overcrowding
I spoke to Live 95FM about ongoing overcrowding at UHL, which is consistently the most overcrowded hospital in the State.
HIQA Investigates UHL Overcrowding
Clare TD Michael McNamara has called on the HSE and government to publish the findings of a review by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) into the ongoing trolley crisis at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).
Hospital Waiting Lists
With more than 900,000 people on hospital waiting lists, I asked the Taoiseach to take responsibility for the implementation of Sláintecare and to examine the increased use of operating theatres in the UHL group.
Trolley on hospital corridor considered multi occupancy room (€813 charge per night)
I questioned the Tanaiste about why a trolley in a hospital corridor is considered to be a “multi occupancy room” and costs €813 per night.
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Business Case Submitted For Further Expansion Of Ennis Hospital Services
Clare Independent TD, Michael McNamara has received confirmation from the HSE that a business case has been submitted for further expansion of the level of services provided at Ennis Hospital.
Read MoreHospital Capacity, Golfgate & Leaving Cert Grade Errors
I spoke on RTÉ Radio’s ‘Late Debate’ programme about the urgent need to address hospital capacity, the Leaving Certificate grade errors and the public reaction to Golfgate.
How many Health Ministers does it take to change a health service?
80 people on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick on a day when we learn that only 23 additional critical care beds have been delivered nationally since March and publication of the HSE Winter Plan is delayed for a further week. The State must step up, not just individual citizens.