The Taoiseach admits he’s ‘not satisfied’ with the progress of healthcare provision in the Midwest region.
It follows concerns raised regarding staffing levels in the UL Hospitals Group, after new figures revealed just 2.3 percent of all acute service positions created nationally last year were done so in the UL Hospitals Group.
It compares to hundreds of whole time equivalent posts created in other hospital groups nationwide.
Addressing questioning from Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s been telling the Dáil that plans for further bed expansion at University Hospital Limerick are needed.
Listen to the full interview here:
Statement from the UL Hospitals Group
There has been a considerable increase in staffing levels across all grades at UL Hospitals Group in recent years. This was particularly evident during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when hundreds of new staff were recruited to support the opening of additional capacity.
Between December 2019 and December 2022 the number of staff employed at UL Hospitals Group grew from 4,146 WTE (whole-time equivalent staff) to 5,222. This amounts to an increase of 26% compared to an increase of 18% in all acute hospital services nationally over the corresponding period.
Over that time period, medical and dental staff at UL Hospitals grew by 24% compared to 19% nationally. The number of nursing and midwifery staff grew by 23% at UL Hospitals Group compared to 19% nationally. And the number of health and social care professionals grew by 17%, below the national increase of 20% for the same period.
Much of this increase in staffing relates to the opening of additional capacity during 2020 and 2021, including 98 new inpatient beds at UHL, 10 new critical care beds at UHL and the new ward and theatre block at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital.
We operate under the HSE Performance & Accountability Framework, where posts must advance through our local Employment Control Committee for approval and where certain senior posts must also be approved at a national level.
Increases in staffing over the last few years have largely supported new bed capacity and initiatives under the HSE National Service Plan and winter plan. Over 2022, we recruited in the region of 500 new staff members across the Group.
Deputy McNamara correctly identifies a historic shortfall in staffing resources at UL Hospitals Group relative to other hospital groups. This was also highlighted in the Deloitte Report published last year. The report recommended a significant increase in medical, nursing and allied health staff for UL Hospitals Group to meet the growing demands of the region. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to increase staffing levels.
