Limerick hospital prepares rooms and operating theatre for possible Trump emergency

US embassy officials have visited the hospital as staff prepare for a possible medical emergency involving the president during his Doonbeg visit

A secluded area has been identified at University Hospital Limerick where a number of private rooms can be readied at short notice. Picture: Dan Linehan

University Hospital Limerick has got Donald Trump's blood type on standby and is prepared to close off a number of rooms and an operating theatre if anything happens to him at Doonbeg.

Officials from the US embassy have visited the hospital and met with staff to draw up a contingency plan.

A secluded area has been identified where a number of private rooms can be readied at short notice, while an operating theatre has also been included in the plan.

Medical personnel who are not scheduled to work over the weekend have also been asked to make themselves available if needed.

A source said US embassy personnel had carried out a detailed visit to the hospital, with the Secret Service briefed on the location and areas where a VIP patient could be received at short notice.

The source said such preparations would normally form part of a US presidential visit and that the hospital is notified when a president may stop over at Shannon or when senior US administration personnel are in the area.

However, the arrangements for this weekend are separate from the Major Emergency Plan for the wider region and have been put in place specifically for the US president.

The source said gardaí would also play a key role in ensuring roads from West Clare to the Dooradoyle hospital campus could be cleared at short notice.

A helicopter flight plan is also in place if the hospital helipad is required.

It is believed that crew members of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, have carried out a virtual reconnaissance, assisted by members of the Irish Air Corps, who regularly fly on emergency missions to the hospital.

Contingency arrangements 

The source said a special communications system could be set up at the location where Mr Trump might be treated, while US officials have also been provided with maps of the entire campus and details of the specific uses of different locations.

“It's amazing the kind of things they require and nothing is left to chance.” 

The hospital source said only a few members of management have been involved with the US embassy personnel who visited in recent days.