Health Minister Considers New Hospital to Combat Overcrowding

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has indicated that she is open to the possibility of constructing an additional hospital or reopening previously closed accident and emergency (A&E) departments to address severe overcrowding in the mid-west region of Ireland. During a visit to the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) on Monday, where she launched a new €105 million investment in a 96-bed facility, MacNeill faced the reality that UHL was the most overcrowded hospital in the country, with approximately 100 patients waiting on trolleys for beds.

Recent figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation highlighted that 40 patients were in the Emergency Department and 60 patients were on wards, prompting urgent calls for action. “All of the options are on the table,” MacNeill stated, emphasizing her commitment to addressing the crisis. She noted she would decide on her preferred course of action by “before Christmas,” based on recommendations made in a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Options Under Review for Immediate Action

The HIQA report outlined three potential solutions to the bed capacity crisis: building an additional hospital, expanding the UHL site, or providing additional capacity off-site. According to the report, the core issue is that there are insufficient inpatient beds in the region, and “immediate action” is required to enhance capacity and ensure patient safety.

MacNeill underscored that while she is considering all three options, her immediate priority is to increase bed capacity. Currently, construction is underway for a second 96-bed block at the UHL site, with plans for a third block in the future. She asserted that this initiative aims to elevate the region’s per capita in-bed ratio from the “lowest” in 2020 to the “second highest” in the country by 2028. The newly opened 96-bed unit represents a significant step toward resolving the ongoing bed capacity deficits in the mid-west.

In her discussions, MacNeill has expressed a desire to engage with all stakeholders, including patient advocacy groups, to gather ideas and insights on how to effectively increase bed capacity in the region. “I’m thinking about twenty years ahead about what this region is going to need,” she remarked.

Calls for Reopening A&E Departments

The Mid West Regional Hospital Campaign Group, which includes families who have lost loved ones due to severe overcrowding at UHL, has repeatedly advocated for the reopening of A&E departments in Ennis, Co Clare, and Nenagh, North Tipperary. These facilities were closed in 2009 when St John’s Hospital in Limerick was reconfigured to funnel patients to UHL. When asked about the possibility of reopening these A&E units to alleviate pressure on UHL’s Emergency Department, MacNeill acknowledged that significant additional support services would be required. Nevertheless, she reiterated, “all of the options are on the table at the moment.”

MacNeill also highlighted several measures already in place to reduce the burden on the Limerick Emergency Department. These include increasing bed capacity in Model 2 hospitals, expanding Medical Assessment Units, and implementing virtual wards to prevent unnecessary emergency visits. “We don’t want people coming to the emergency department unless they really need to,” she stated.

While outlining these immediate initiatives, MacNeill recognized that a long-term vision is essential and that further planning will be necessary to create sustainable solutions for the region’s healthcare needs.

The new 96-bed block, which opened on Monday, requires an estimated 400 staff to operate effectively. According to HSE Chief Executive Bernard Gloster, 300 staff have already been recruited, with the remaining positions filled by agency staff and existing hospital personnel. Gloster assured that the unit is fully staffed and operational, stating, “We’re not in the habit of opening facilities that are not safely and properly staffed.”

The ongoing discussions and developments surrounding healthcare capacity in the mid-west region underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions as the situation at UHL remains critical.