Overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick tops concerns of Men's Shed members

GIVEN how geographically close the Dooradoyle/Raheen Men's Shed is to University Hospital Limerick (UHL), it's perhaps not surprising the overcrowding crisis in its emergency department (ED) tops its members' list of election concerns.

The popular suburban Men's Shed is located just a two minute walk away from UHL, and many of its 100 members have first hand experience of long waits in the ED.

They want to see the recruitment of more nurses and doctors to help improve matters at the region's main hospital.

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Racefield man Tom Williams said: "I had a situation not so very long ago where a good friend of mine had a very had ache in her back. She went in [to the ED] at four o'clock in the afternoon. To make a long story short, that lady was not seen until 2.30am the following morning. It's a long long time to be in pain."

Below: Members of Dooradoyle Raheen Men's Shed, Sean Dalton, Dooradoyle, chairman and Tony Cremins, Ballinacurra | Picture: Adrian Butler

It is this experience which makes improvements to the ED his number one issue in Limeick.

"They closed all the other [EDs] without renewing the personnel - they closed John's, they closed Ennis, they closed Nenagh and they didn't do anything for us here," he said, in reference to the 2009 decision to cut the emergency care ward from four centres down to just one, at Dooradoyle.

Sean Dalton, who chairs the Dooradoyle/Raheen Men's Shed, which is located on the edge of the Maypark estate has concerns over crime in the city centre.

Above: Tom Williams, Gouldavoher and Tom Bolton, Racefield

"There seems to be a lack of gardai on the beat. It's very important people should feel safe walking around wherever. Luckily enmough we seem to be OK out here. But I see crime around the city. The homelessness situation is very sad to see. It's something that we haven't seen before, and it's something we did not grow up seeing," he said.

Tony Cremins of Ballinacurra says the upgrade of the outside of Colbert rail station - which saw the removal of the car park at the front in favour of a public realm - has turned Parnell Street into a no-go area, one which he does not feel safe walking around any more.

He has admitted that he will probably not be voting in the General Election, "given the way things are going in Limerick".

Tom Williams is circumspect about whether he will go to the polls on Friday, November 29.

"I've a question mark over it right now, to be honest with you," he said.

Sean says he will definitely have his say, adding: "I'm not 100% certain who I will vote for yet. But I'll always go out to vote."
His specific ask of the new Government - whoever it might be - is to continue funding Men's Sheds, which exist to provide a space where men can come together to learn, share skills and make long-lasting friendships.

"There are almost 400 Men's Sheds in Ireland now. For the last two or three years, we have been getting a small amount of funding - around €3,000 - which helps to run the Shed. This Shed here costs around €12,000 a year to run. Were it not for some fundraising events we do, we wouldn't be able to run it. But the funding we have been getting to help to alleviate heating costs, security costs and other costs - what we are hearing is this funding is not guaranteed from now on. We'd need to apply for funding. If we get it, we get it, if we don't, we don't," he explains.

Sean believes this could force many more rural Men's Sheds into closing down.

"There are Men's Sheds in small villages and towns. They are a place for guys to go. The shops are gone, the post offices are gone. The pub is a no go, because of the cost and the laws around drink driving. This funding is vital. The social dividend is enormous. The fellowship we have here is incredible."

One Men's Shed member who has already decided who he is backing is Tom Bolton.

"I'm pretty well made up my mind on who I am voting for," he told Limerick Live.