PLANNED CRITICAL CARE UNIT DELAY WILL PUT HUGE PRESSURE ON REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Issued : Thursday 2 September, 2010
Limerick City Labour T.D. & Party Spokesperson on Health Jan O’Sullivan has expressed her concern that a planned new critical care facility scheduled to be built and in operation early next year will now be delayed indefinitely due to a planning appeal by the developers Sisk & Sons Ltd.
As part of the proposed reconfiguration plan for A&E services throughout the Mid West a new purpose built critical care unit on the grounds of the Regional Hospital incorporating intensive care, coronary care, high dependency care, and cardiac care facilities was planned.
While Limerick County Council granted planning permission the developer Sisks have appealed to An Bord Plenala the request for €834,572 in development levies as part of the planning conditions. It will be at least December 6th next before a decision is made therefore increasing pressure on frontline staff to cope without the necessary resources with the demands being placed on them on a daily basis.
The new six storey building would considerably improve the provision of services including an extension of the existing renal dialysis service currently provided in the Regional Hospital. When the HSE announced a downgrading of A & E and surgical services provided in Nenagh and Ennis Hospitals there was an agreement and understanding that additional resources and investment would be targeted for the Regional Hospital however instead what we have seen is a gradual cutback in services, along with bed and ward closures.
The HSE must now I believe put in place a contingency plan to outline how they intend to deal with the expected increase in the demand for services over the coming winter months so as to ensure patients are cared for.
The proposed new critical care facility is one of few capital projects agreed by the HSE for 2010 and I will be looking for confirmation from the HSE and Minister Harney that the funding approved will be ring-fenced.
