Midwest has been discriminated against for too long – cast-iron guarantee needed that funding for UHL will be available
Midwest has been discriminated against for too long - cast-iron guarantee needed that funding for UHL will be available - The Labour Party
Speaking during Leaders’ Questions today, Labour TD for Tipperary North Alan Kelly welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Health on addressing overcrowding in UHL.
Deputy Kelly said:
“It’s welcome to see that the Minister for Health is treating care in the MidWest as a priority. Too many young lives have been lost in recent years due to a failure of the State to properly equip the MidWest with the standards of care that are needed.
“Regarding the decision today, Minister Carroll MacNeill needs to deliver on option B and C together. They can be delivered in stages as one project that will deliver on a new model 4 in the hospital. We cannot continue with just one emergency department in the Midwest catering for in excess of 450,000 people
“However, like all things, the devil will be in the detail on how this Government can actually deliver the 600 beds that are needed in the Mid West by 2040.
“We know that the HSE simply does not have the capital funding allocated to it that is required for a project of this scale. While €9.2bn has been promised up to 2030, this simply is not enough to deliver what is needed when it comes to future proofing healthcare in the Mid West
“Under questioning by me in the Dáil today, the Taoiseach refused to answer if the capital allocation for the HSE would be increased to deal with this and to bring this project to life on time.
“Today needs to be the day that this Government says no more to discrimination against the MidWest when it comes to care. If you look at the South East, there are four Model 3 hospitals in South Tipperary, in Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny. This discrimination needs to end.”