Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath is casting doubt on the motivation for a HIQA led review of emergency care in the MidWest Region. Deputy McGrath is labeling the review ordered by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly’s as a “pre-election political trick.”
Deputy McGrath says another report is not necessary given the number of HIQA visits to the Emergency Department in UHL and other HSE investigations into care at UHL
The TD has consistently advocated for the reopening of smaller EDs in Nenagh, Ennis, and St. John’s Hospital in Limerick City to alleviate the ongoing overcrowding crisis – these units were all closed in 2009 as part of the Reconfiguration of services that means the MidWest has only one ED for a population of over 420,000.
The TD also highlights that there are nearly 200 staff shortages at UHL and adds that safe staffing and timely care should be a government priority.
