Health minister aims to improve weekend emergency services

The Health Minister, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, is focusing on improving emergency department (ED) services over the weekends at hospitals in Ireland. She spoke at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where new facilities are being built. A new 96-bed block is expected to be finished by September. Despite this expansion, there are ongoing calls for a second acute hospital in the mid-west region, especially to support the growing elderly population. UHL has the highest rate of overcrowding in the country, prompting demands for better emergency services. Carroll MacNeill said that few patients admitted to the ED actually require hospitalization. She noted that around 25% of patients need to be admitted, while the rest can be discharged. The goal is to create a smooth workflow in the hospital, particularly during weekends when patient movement has been slower. To address the challenges in patient flow, the minister emphasized the need for staff to work during weekends. This includes ensuring timely discharges and preventing backlogs. She acknowledged the need for more beds and announced plans for the immediate construction of another 96-bed unit. Angela Coll, Chairperson of Friends of Ennis Hospital, welcomed the investment but pointed out that building more beds alone will not meet the needs of the growing population. She hopes the upcoming report from HIQA in May will address the need for a second acute hospital in the area. Additionally, Bernard Gloster, the Chief Executive of HSE, addressed past criticism of hospital services cutbacks in 2009. He stated that recent investments in staffing and infrastructure are now beginning to make a difference, although it took time to recover from earlier funding issues. The HSE is also in discussions with healthcare unions to prevent industrial action over staffing and pay, which unions say affect patient safety. A meeting is planned for next week to tackle these issues.