Funds delay adds to city A&E fears
Kieran O’Donnell TD said a delay in getting HSE funding has heightened fears.
Mr O’Donnell said: “The Government and HSE behaviour with regard to these vital A&E services at St John’s hospital for the people of Limerick city is nothing short of disgraceful.”
He claimed the long awaited Teamwork/Horwath group consultants report on the review of acute hospital services provision in the mid-west, including St John’s, has yet to be considered by the HSE.
“This report was expected to be published as far back as 12 month ago and I have continued to raise this matter in the Dáil. I am now demanding an immediate commitment from them that the current level of A&E services will be maintained into the future at St John’s.”
The hospital’s A&E caters for about 20,000 patients every year.
Mr O’Donnell said: “It provides a vital service to the people of Limerick and the mid-west area in an efficient manner.”
He said ¬ only should the current level of such services be maintained, but they should be enhanced.
“Apart from ongoing promises that publication of the Teamwork/Horwath group consultants report was imminent, no such commitment has been forthcoming, which is totally unacceptable,” Mr O’Donnell added.
