Sinn Féin TD for Tipperary, Martin Browne, is calling on the government to endorse and implement his party’s proposals to end what he calls the constant crisis in Irish hospitals.
Deputy Browne demands that this Winter must be a turning point in respect of overcrowding.
Ireland has fewer acute inpatient beds in hospitals than 25 years ago and needs at least 800 more acute and transitional care beds in place before next winter according to the Cashel based TD. Deputy Browne noted the INMO data that show there was no day in 2022 when the number of people receiving care on trolleys was under 300. In the short term he calls for greater use of all public and private health care beds and a longer term plan to deliver more acute inpatient and sub-acute hospital beds and community step-down beds to speed up admissions and discharges along with the fast track delivery of elective care centres. Health Minister Donnelly is promising a new facility in Limerick to provide urgent day procedures to tackle waiting lists and hopes this can be delivered in 18 months.
