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No additional resources for Ennis Hospital
NO ADDITIONAL resources look set to be granted for Ennis Hospital on foot of the recent decision to transport patients via ambulance from University Hospital Limerick (UHL), writes Páraic McMahon.
As overcrowding at UHL continues, the transfer of patients to Ennis Hospital’s MAU for emergency care is set to continue for the foreseeable future. The MAU pathway began on January 9. Despite the extra use of Ennis Hospital, no additional resources will be provided. Senior officials in UL Hospitals Group have said they are “pleased” with how the MAU has adapted thus far.
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Correspondence from UL Hospitals Group Chief Executive Officer, Colette Cowan to Dublin North-West TD, Róisín Shorthall (SD) in a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly (FF).
ing other ones”.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) said he did not know the reasons behind the theatres lack of use but committed to make inquiries. “I agree with the Deputy’s point. If we are putting additional elective capacity and theatres into Ennis, Nenagh and Croom, for example, it makes sense to use them rather than building new ones, at least in the first instance. I have heard of similar issues.
“The surgical hub in Tallaght, for example, has four theatres but only two operating. I am told that it is down to staffing issues, but perhaps there is more to it than that”.
Deputy Shorthall asked if the decision to transport patients to Ennis was a temporary measure and if it would result in extra resources. Ms Cowan outlined that a similar pathway had been trialled in Cork and Mallow General Hospital last year. “This pathway will result in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, will reduce patient presentations to Emergency Departments and will release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls”.
