Midwest to get two new hospitals and UHL to undergo expansion, health minister confirms
University Hospital Limerick. Picture: Dan Linehan
The Midwest will ultimately get two new hospitals including one with an emergency department as well as expansion at University Hospital Limerick although timelines are not yet clear, health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said on Tuesday.
She has secured support from Cabinet to work on the three options given to her in advice by health watchdog Hiqa in September.
Hiqa’s advice was published in September.
It offered three options. Option A was to expand capacity at UHL, Option B to build an elective hospital nearby to UHL and Option C was to build a new hospital in the region with an emergency department.
The regulator commissioned to analyse the whole of the emergency services across Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in the wake of a series of tragedies including the death of teenager Aoife Johnston.
Ms Carroll MacNeill said her decision is “to accept all three options, Option A, Option B and Option C, and to take appropriate steps to deliver all of them as quickly may be.”
She has already asked the HSE to begin the search for a site where an elective hospital could be built.
“I have now mandated and given the direction to the HSE to secure the site that will give us options for Option B and the flexibility potentially around Option C,” she said.
It was not immediately clear if she envisages the two new hospitals being built on the same site or not.
Asked how long it might take to deliver the new elective hospital, the minister said this depends on the site chosen.
She would not comment for example on reports Clare county council has submitted potential sites for consideration.
Ms Carroll MacNeill praised UHL for its work so far in reducing overcrowding despite the on-going pressures, saying there has been “enormous change” there.
Delivery of the first option will build on work already started, including construction begun on a new surgical hub.
“That’ll be open in 2026,” she said.
Labour TD for Limerick City Conor Sheehan said he cautiously welcomed the plans.
He has raised the issue of overcrowding many time including when his grandfather was directly affected in 2024.
He called for clarity however on when a new Model 4 hospital with an emergency department will be delivered.
“The Minister has said she will bring another memo to cabinet about Option C in the spring and we need to clarity on exactly when that will happen, and why it could not be done today.”
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