Pre-election meeting hears calls for more A&Es in West Clare ‘death zone’
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People in west Clare feel like they live “in a death zone”, a heated meeting in Ennis on the impact of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has heard.
Academic and researcher Sinéad Madden, who hosted the event, presented her research on bed capacity in the area. She said that by increasing bed numbers in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals the HSE “could reduce UHL’s ED [emergency department] burden by over 38,000 annual attendees”.
A review by health watchdog Hiqa is assessing whether a second ED is needed in the region.
However, Ms Madden described this as “average”, saying: “I seriously don’t think average is going to fix the Midwest.”
She shared data showing in contrast that a “best in class” outcome would be three additional EDs to give the region four EDs.
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She argued a new hospital in Ennis would bring in hundreds of new staff who would require housing, and be supported by expanded primary care services. She also suggested boosting services in west Clare.
“At a population level, county Clare requires 402 beds, with 50 existing and 48 planned, requiring 302 unplanned acute beds,” the study showed.
Ennis residents Brian Coughlan and his wife Debbie attended, saying they retired to Ennis recently from Limerick.
Mr Coughlan said: “I was in UHL recently for a week and a half, and my wife was going in and out to me every day.
Ms Coughlan said: “It’s been frustrating to watch all the government reports saying ‘oh we’re building more beds’. UHL gave him good care once he got in, but the volume of what is going on there is unreal. I was terrified he would end up on a trolley but he didn’t.”
Martin and Marie Minogue came from Whitegate to the meeting at Tracey’s West County Hotel.
“You can’t pull the wool over people’s eyes anymore, they’re listening,” said Mr Minogue. “It’s the people who put you in and you have to stand by them.“
A number of speakers noted the calls from the Midwest Hospital Campaign for three EDs to be reopened including also Nenagh and St John’s hospitals.
Ms Madden’s study highlighted a 145-bed shortfall for north Tipperary as it needs 221 beds with only 52 available and 24 planned for Nenagh. The pace of potential reform was also discussed, with speakers critical of how long it is taking to build the national children’s hospital.
Others said as the Hiqa review will not be published until next summer, the programme for a new government cannot take account of it.
Fianna Fáil councillor Rita McInerney supported calls to expand services in west and north Clare due to how remote this area is. She said:
Fine Gael candidate Tom Nolan said at least two urgent care units are needed for the county in the short term to address the gaps now especially in the remote and isolated areas.
Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe said “it is inevitable” Hiqa will recommend a new hospital and committed to supporting this.
There were calls for Ms Madden’s presentation to be taken into account by Hiqa when it is working through what is the best model.
Angela Coll from the Friends of Ennis Hospital advocacy group said: “What we’re hoping to hear from the politicians is that they all support the idea of having an ED in Clare for the people of Clare.”