Lowry reacts to HIQA review on emergency healthcare services in HSE Mid-West Region

The long-awaited HIQA report the Government have requested on the review of the design and delivery of urgent and emergency healthcare services to the mid West has been released.

"Having concluded this review HIQA have identified the mismatch between capacity and demand leading to a shortage of acute bed capacity for patients in the Mid-west region", North Tipperary TD, Deputy Michael Lowry said reacting to the publication on Tuesday evening.

This is a belated formal conclusion and acknowledgement of what Deputy Lowry and others have been saying for years, University Limerick struggles year on year to cope with acutely ill patients or emergency bed requirements, he said.

"The principle conclusion is that the Mid West Region that includes North Tipperary does not has sufficient acute bed capacity, the Mid West also requires additional A&E capacity. The report underlines the significant disadvantage that the Mid west has been under comparable to other regions.

"UHL has been under extraordinary pressure for many years now, this has placed intolerable strain on the staff and has meant that patients in many cases have received lass than satisfactory medical care and attention.

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"This report gives options on how to address the capacity issues. It is now important that the preferred option is selected and acted upon as a matter of urgency.

"Under resourcing the healthcare in the Mid West is a major issue that must be dealt with as a priority by this Government and the Deptartment of Health", Deputy Lowry said..