Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Garvey and recognise the concerns she has raised on behalf of people in the mid-west region who are trying to access these essential services. I will bring the questions she raised back to the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and his officials.

As already advised, significant capital investment has been made by the Government to expand the radiology department at University Hospital Limerick. Work is under way to deliver the much-needed capacity, including an additional MRI scanner. Enabling works have started and the procurement phase has commenced. The Minister continues to work closely with the HSE and University Hospital Limerick to deliver much-needed improvements for the people of the mid-west.

A new regional executive officer has been appointed to support the Minister and the CEO of the HSE to ensure the expert team de-escalates pressures on the emergency department and manages patient flow at University Hospital Limerick. Many of the changes the Minister has sanctioned are having an immediate effect on patient flow. These include the implementation of the GPs on the door at the emergency department and the rostering of senior management on the floor. Other changes will be brought into effect in the medium term and in time for the winter surge later this year.Those also will include 16 additional fast-build beds, which are to be commissioned on the hospital site, the procurement of 20 permanent step-down and rehabilitation beds in Clare and the temporary procurement of 50 step-down beds in Nenagh, pending delivery of the new 96-bed block. Other measures will address long-term challenges to provide enduring stability to the area. These include developing the capacity of the model 2 hospital in Ennis, of Nenagh and St. John's hospitals, and the provision of a second 96-bed block by 2028. The Minister is committed to working closely with the Oireachtas, elected members in the mid-west and the HSE to ensure the delivery of improved services for the people who much need them.