Query on future of St John’s

LABOUR health spokes-person Jan O’Sullivan yesterday called on the Health Minister to spell out the future role envisaged for St John’s Hospital in Limerick.

Ms O’Sullivan: “I want Minister Harney to clarify the situation regarding St John’s Hospital in terms of both current medical and surgical services, A&E services, and a future expansion project for the hospital.

“There is still uncertainty around St John’s following the publication of the Howarth Teamwork report. We need a clear statement that the doctor-led A&E service will be fully maintained and I will be seeking that assurance from Minister Harney in the Dáil this week.”

St John’s Hospital, she said, has provided extremely important health services in Limerick for generations and there is considerable anxiety and concern among the public that these vital services will be downgraded by the Government as part of their overall plan for the delivery of health services in the city and mid-west region.

Ms O’Sullivan said: “I recently visited St John’s Hospital to meet with both management and frontline healthcare professionals who briefed me on their future development plans for the hospital. These plans provide for a significant extension to the existing hospital building so that critical and necessary health services can still be made available to the people of Limerick.”

She said Ms Harney must give a clear commitment to the management and staff of St John’s Hospital that both surgical services and A&E services will be safeguarded and protected and that the hospital will play an essential part in the future delivery of health services to the people of Limerick.