Nenagh hospital not suitable to host A&E, Dáil committee hears
Petitions committee told A&E would have to be in a minimum model three hospital
A second emergency department in the midwest would need to be located in a model three hospital, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said.
Nenagh Hospital is a model two facility. The Minister was speaking at the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen and said that he has asked HIQA to carry out an independent review of whether a second emergency department is needed in the midwest.
However, Social Democrat's Róisín Shortall pointed out that the midwest has only one suitable facility, and that is UHL.
She said of the six-hospital groups in the country, most have multiple model three and four facilities.
“UHL is a complete outlier because it only has one level four hospital and no level three hospitals at all. There is something seriously wrong with that allocation of resources, said Ms Shorthall.
Minister Donnelly said that he is awaiting the outcome of the HIQA review and reiterated that there must be a model three hospital for a second ED. He also said that no other hospital group had been given the resources afforded to UHL.
“As I said to the Deputy, there is no hospital in Ireland that has had more additional resources than UHL.
“It has had a 43% increase in its budget in the lifetime of this Government. That is unheard of. UHL has had an extra 1,2000 staff. That is unheard of. There is no other hospital getting that kind of additional resource.
“Talking about the consultants, an extra 49 consultants are in place now. I agree with the premise of going back to 2020. I do agree with it. That is why we have invested at the level we have.
“Even with that investment, I want to go further and make sure as we move to the regions that there is balanced capacity, said Minister Donnelly.
Deputy Shorthall countered the minister's point by saying that UHL started out with fewer resources than any other hospital group.
She said all other groups had between 600 and 700 consultants while UHL had 230, and bed capacity was also well below the standard.
Deputy Shorthall said the Government's investment needed to be examined in that context and accused the department of “resistance” to fully supporting UHL.
“If UHL started from such a low base, clearly it has not even come close to catching up with the other hospital groups,” said Ms Shorthall.
Minister Donnelly said he could only speak about his government and not previous administrations.
“What I am saying to the Deputy is there are two 96-bed blocks being built on-site at the moment. When they are finished they will be fully staffed.
“That means more nurses, more health and social care professionals and more consultants.
If the Deputy is asking me if UHL needs more and if the region needs more, absolutely it does, and we will continue to invest,” said Minister Donnelly.
Cathaoirleach Martin Browne asked the Minister when the 96-bed block will open. Minister Donnelly said in the first quarter of 2025 and will provide 71 new beds and 25 replacements.
However, Sinn Fein Senator Paul Gavin pointed out that no recruitment had been sanctioned for the block and a recruitment embargo is in place.
“I had confirmation today that no recruitment has yet been sanctioned for this unit.
“When we consider it takes six to nine months to hire essential staff like nurses, this means that in practice, this 96-bed unit will not open in the first quarter of next year because the recruitment process has not even been sanctioned yet, said Senator Gavin.
The Minister did not comment on the recruitment process for the new block.