The appointment of a design team for the much-needed 96 bed unit at the University Hospital Limerick campus in Dooradoyle is now expected to be completed before next March.
Welcoming the news that the procurement process for the design team is progressing, Limerick City Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan said that he had received confirmation in a response to a Parliamentary Question that the project will move on to the next phase within the next eight to ten weeks.
“I welcome this move by the HSE, funding is available for the design plan and procurement process will be completed in the first quarter of 2018”.
Hospital management have said the project is essential to addressing the capacity problems in the hospital, especially around access in the Emergency Department which is experiencing overcrowding on a daily basis.
“This unit when built and adequately staffed will be critical to delivering a first class hospital in Limerick. I have been constantly advocating for additional beds and staff for Limerick hospitals to help address the crisis, and I am glad some action is now being taken.
“Having 902 patients on trolleys in September was totally unacceptable. In the first four days of this week, 200 people were lying on trolleys at UHL, which was the highest anywhere in the state.
“Although this announcement of progress is welcome, the time frame for delivery is unacceptable and the Minister must fast track the capital funding for the construction stage,” he added. “
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