Limerick TD and local Minister Patrick O’Donovan has welcomed the news that the new sixty bed unit at the University Hospital Limerick is to open shortly.
“I’ve been told by the Minister for Health that the new sixty beds, which comprises of three twenty bed wards will open over three dates, 23rd of November, 14th of December and 4th of January. This is really important news for Limerick and the Mid-West. The last Government provided the funding for the construction of the unit, so to have it completed and ready now for opening is really important news for the people of this region.”
Minister O’Donovan said that over a period of time, the Government had been grappling with a number of problems at UHL that date back to the reconfiguration of hospitals in the region including Nenagh, Ennis and St. Johns. This he said had resulted in the provision of a new Emergency Department in the Hospital and the provision of other facilities like this sixty bed unit.
“Over the last number of years within Government, I have been constantly pressing for additional beds within the hospital given the size of the population that the hospital is serving and this will help to alleviate some of the problems in the hospital. However, there is a need to have the planned investment programme in the Hospital continued to be rolled out and this is something that I will work on.”
Patrick O’Donovan also said that the current difficulties that the Country and the Hospital are under as a result of COVID-19 are also adding to the problems in UHL. “Unfortunately some parts of this Region have very high levels of COVID, and are among the highest in the Country. This is having a knock-on impact on the Hospital and its staff, and it shows all of us the importance of listening ton and following the public health advice.”
Patrick O’Donovan said that he would continue to work in Government to get the maximum amount of funding from Government for improvements in UHL, and other parts of the health system in Limerick. “The National Development Plan had identified a lot of funding for health and my priority is to get the maximum amount of that for Limerick.”
