Tánaiste Makes Way for Extra Hospital Beds in Limerick
Tánaiste Makes Way for Extra Hospital Beds in Limerick
(PRWEB) July 29, 2005
Welcoming the announcement, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Tim OÂMalley said that “the plan represents a common sense approach that will see new private hospitals built on the grounds of public hospitals, thus freeing up beds in the public hospitals.”
But the Irish Nurses Organisation wants to know who will staff these beds considering the current nursing shortages and say that the existing 400 unused public beds should be opened up instead. They also point out that the “new beds referred to by the Tanaiste, will not become available for another five years.
But Minister OÂMalley is still very supportive of the TanaisteÂs idea.
“By encouraging new private hospitals to take a substantial number of private and semi-private beds out of our public hospitals, we will create new beds for public patients in the fastest and most cost-effective way in the next five years. This is a wonderful initiative and something that I have championed here in Limerick for many years, he said.
The Mid Western Regional Hospital currently has 118 beds designated for private use, while the maternity hospital has 27 private beds, and St JohnÂs Hospital has 43.
If the Health Service Executive (HSE) succeeds in encouraging the private sector to build new facilities, then these beds could be returned to public use.
Minister OÂMalley praised the TánaisteÂs initiative, saying it represented “fresh new thinking to solve an age-old problemÂ. And he added that it makes “perfect sense ” to utilise the private sector in order to get the maximum value out of public money.
It is expected that the HSE will begin work immediately on the project, so that invitations to tender for new hospital developments will be issued as soon as possible, he added.
“The TánaisteÂs initiative will improve equity of access for public patients, while providing private patients with purpose-built, new hospital facilities. By locating new private hospitals adjacent to the existing public hospitals, we will achieve complementary roles for the public and private hospitals.Â
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