Frances Watkins, 24 May
THE MINISTER for Health has announced the acceleration of plans to
deliver additional bed capacity at University Hospital Limerick.
Construction is continuing on a 96-bed ward block at the hospital. A
further two 96-bed blocks are proposed to be developed as part of the
overall masterplan for the University Hospital Limerick Campus.
Confirming the acceleration of plans on Wednesday, Minister Donnelly
said: "Today I am delighted to announce that the HSE are making
arrangements to accelerate enabling works which will progress delivery
of a new second 96-Bed Ward Block.
"This next phase of works to be progressed in the coming months at UHL
will include an underground car-park, along with ground floor and first
floor shell spaces together providing the lower floors of the next
hospital block envisaged in the site masterplan.
[2023-05-24_16_14_54_2023_02_24-2023-02-24_17_31_40_gn4_dat_15970596-jp
g-1677259926083-jpg-1684941963316.jpg--bench_warrant_issued_for_woman_w
ho_stabbed_tinder__date__at_limerick_apartment_complex.jpg?168494196334
0]
Bench warrant issued for woman who stabbed Tinder 'date' at Limerick
apartment complex
"The HSE will also prepare plans to take forward a further phase of
capital works that would include construction and fit out of a further
four 24-bed inpatient wards as part of the upper part of second ward
block."
Mr Donnelly said the government is committed to transforming how they
deliver healthcare in Ireland, building a health service that is based
on patient need and not their ability to pay.
"In the largest increase in capacity in the history of the Health
Service Executive (HSE), we have opened an additional 975 permanent
hospital beds, excluding critical care, since 1 January 2020.
"Further beds will be added throughout 2023. We have also increased our
critical care capacity to 323 beds, which represents an increase of
approximately 25% over the 2020 baseline of 258 beds and HSE also plan
to add a further 29 beds this year.
"Our health infrastructure is key to providing health services and is a
fundamental enabler of health service reform.
"Investment in infrastructure is taking account of the complexity of
health services and the changing way we deliver those services now and
into the future."
[Revinton_2-1684945252131.jpg--plans_for_major_housing_development_in_l
imerick_rejected_for_a_second_time.jpg?1684945252214]
Plans for major housing development in Limerick rejected for a second
time
Fianna Fáil Minister of State and Limerick TD Niall Collins has
welcomed the acceleration of plans to deliver a new 96-bed ward at UHL.
“The provision of additional bed capacity is critical to solving the
issues we’ve been experiencing in Limerick for far too long. Both the
new bed capacity and new personnel are critical. It is something we’ll
continue to pursue,” he said.