University Hospital Limerick. Photo: Don Moloney
Former Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has told the Dáil how he had to beg his 85-year-old father to go to University Hospital Limerick.
Mr Kelly said his father was upset because of the controversies that have rocked the chronically overcrowded emergency department.
He added that he had spoken on no other issue more often in the Dáil, as he asked when facilities might be improved.
“I’ve direct experience of this currently. My own dad is in UHL for the last four weeks,” said Mr Kelly.
“I had to convince an 85-year-old crying man, my own father, to actually go in, because of all the reports in relation to the hospital.”
He said Health Minister Stephen Donnelly had said that a new nine-bed hospital block would be open in the first quarter of next year, although HSE chief, Bernard Gloster, had said it would be the middle of next year. Mr Kelly asked which date is accurate, saying that “the people of the Midwest need to know”.
The Taoiseach responded: “I would like to firstly send my best wishes to your dad.
“Secondly, I appreciate the importance of the point you are making, I’ll ask the Minister for Health to provide you with the timeline.
“I want to make sure you get the accurate information relating to the 96-bed unit.”
Mr Kelly recently clarified that he was running again in the general election, when Tipperary will split into two new three-seaters, Tipperary North and Tipperary South.
The hospital group has been contacted for a response.
