University of Limerick Hospitals group won't get any new acute beds in 2023

UNIVERSITY of Limerick Hospitals Group is the only hospital group in the country that will not receive new acute beds in 2023. 

According to new figures, none of the 209 acute beds scheduled to open this year will be opened in the Mid-West region.

In response to a parliamentary question submitted by Michael McNamara, Independent Clare TD none of the six hospitals in the group will receive the new beds which are subject to staffing and completion of some capital works. 

Deputy McNamara said: "One year on from the news that no new acute beds would be opened within the UL Hospitals Group in 2022, we learn that the Mid West is once again is missing from the list of regions to benefit from such investment in 2023.

Figures show ‘chronic underinvestment’ in University Hospital Limerick

"This follows on from the revelation that just 7 full-time positions were created at UHL, the most overcrowded hospital in the State for the past 7 years, and only 61 fulltime positions were filled in the UL Hospitals Group in 2022, the smallest increase in any region of the State, it’s clear that the chronic underinvestment in acute services in the Mid-West will continue through 2023.

"The fact that the UL Hospitals Group is the only group in the country not to benefit from new acute beds is an affront to the people of Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary."

Deputy McNamara admitted that while the provision of additional bed capacity on its own will not resolve the overcrowding problems at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), the delivery of new acute, beds "should certainly be part of the solution."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will visit UHL on Friday and he is also scheduled to meet with representatives of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign.