Health Minister Simon Harris has come under severe pressure to provide clarity on the opening of a new unit at University Hospital Limerick.

A recent revelation that 92 people are now on trolleys at UHL has sparked Labour's Jan O’Sullivan to call for a clear timeline on the new 60-bed modular facility.

Deputy O'Sullivan said: "Minister Harris must give the people of the Midwest clarity on the exact time for the construction, fit out and recruitment of staff for the 60 bed modular unit at UHL. In recent days we have heard contradictory reports from the Chief Executive who says the block won't be ready until 2021 and the board who says the unit will open before the end of this year.


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"2019 was the worst year on record for all the hospitals in the country but in particular for UHL, which has caused dreadful suffering for patients and staff. We were promised by Minister Harris and by local Fine Gael representatives that the 60 bed block would be ready before the end of the year.


"We have seen this before with Fine Gael when they have announced and promised projects with ambitious plans and glossy launches with little actual delivery.


"I am calling now on Minister Harris to give the people of the Midwest some relief by laying down a line in the sand that the 60 bed unit will be completed and staffed before the end of the year.

"The revelation that there are now 92 people on trolleys at UHL means this is now a national emergency and should be treated as such. The Minister needs to allocate additional emergency funding in addition to the €26 million euro winter plan in order to open all available beds and to end the HSE's recruitment pause now."

(CM/MH)