UL Hospitals Group suffers from a continuous significant deficit in funding compared to the other five hospital groups.
That’s according to Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea who is calling on the Minister for Health to address this inequality in funding.
“Dr Gerry Burke, Clinical Director Maternal and Child Health, UL Hospitals Group, has analysed funding from the Department of Health and the HSE to the six hospital groups in the State. The data revealed that the UL Hospitals Group suffers from a significant continued deficit in funding in comparison with the other five hospital groups,” Deputy O’Dea claimed.
“Dr Burke’s research showed that on average the five other hospital groups have 25 per cent more hospital doctors, 27 per cent more consultants, 50 per cent more health and social care professionals and 7 per cent more nurses and mid-wives compared to the UL Hospitals Group.
“He believes that the UL Hospitals Group needs about 130 more doctors, 120 nurses and 200 health and social care staff to bring it up to the same level as the five other hospital groups.
“This persistent deficit in funding for the UL Hospitals Group is grossly unfair and discriminatory to the people of Limerick and the Mid-West. We are being treated like second class citizens. Is it any wonder then that we have consistently the most overcrowded emergency department in the State.”
Deputy O’Dea has tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health asking him to immediately address this inequality in funding.
