HSE Capital Plan lacks credibility
Labour Party Health spokesperon, Alan Kelly TD, has said the HSE Capital Plan lacks credibility.
Deputy Kelly said:
“The HSE Capital Plan for 2019 published today, nine months into the year, is a complete window dressing exercise.
“Many of the projects listed in this plan we already know about or are underway.
“The delay in this plan being published shows the Childrens’ Hospital overspend is coming home to roost. There is little in this plan to tackle important issues such as the National Maternity Strategy and additional bed capactity for hospitals that see huge overcrowding.
“Time and time again, we know through trolley-watch figures, that University Hospital Limerick is the most consistenly overcrowded hospital in the country. The people in the Mid-West region have been promised a permament 96 bed block. This plan fails to even mention this. It is inexcusable that this block which could help ease many of the issues in UHL now looks like it won’t be delivered at all.
“In media interviews today, the Minister for Health has said it is not true to say that projects are being delayed, it’s because many projects now won’t happen at all. We only need to look at the capital projects referenced in the National Maternity Strategy, these projects now seem to be on the back burner until after this plan expires in 2021.
“Overall, after delaying the publication of this plan for what we can only assume are political reasons, this plan is a complete let down and does a disservice to those who want to solve the long-term challenges that exist in our health service.”