LIMERICK Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell is to meet with Health Minister Leo Varadkar next week over the provision of a new 30-bed unit at University Hospital Limerick.
According to Deputy O’Donnell, the 30-bed unit would be an interim measure to alleviate the likelihood of overcrowding until the new accident and emergency unit is opened in 2016.
“This would involve moving the acute medical assessment unit, which is near the A&E to an adjacent location, thereby freeing up 30 in-patient beds to be converted into a short-stay unit to cater for pressures within the A&E,” he explained.
The Limerick TD has been campaigning for the new unit over the summer and has been in contact with Minister Varadkar since his appointment to the health portfolio.
“I will be impressing on the Minister the fact that there is a window of opportunity for the establishment of this unit before any overcrowding occurs during the winter. It is very important that patients receive the highest standards of care in the interim before the new A&E is opened in 2016,” he concluded.
