The government has made a significant commitment to tackle the issue of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) by choosing to implement a combination of the three recommendations put forth in the HIQA report. This includes the crucial step of securing a site for a new hospital in the midwest region.
In the HIQA report, three options were recommended: enhancing the existing capacity at UHL, establishing a second facility near the Dooradoyle campus, or constructing a completely new hospital that would feature an additional emergency department.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill shared this announcement after gaining approval during today’s Cabinet meeting. She emphasized that these decisions will guide investments and outline both short-term and long-term strategies for healthcare services catering to the local population.
The minister pointed out that the current plan is set to expand capacity at UHL, which will result in the addition of up to 306 beds, thus moving forward with Option A from the report. Additionally, there are plans to increase bed availability in other Model 2 hospitals in the region, namely Ennis, Nenagh, and Saint John’s Hospitals. By the conclusion of the Acute Hospital Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan in 2031, this could mean a total of 420 extra beds for the region, starting from 2024.
During her appearance on RTÉ's News at One, Minister Carroll MacNeill acknowledged that while increasing capacity at UHL is essential, further actions are also necessary to alleviate the strain on the hospital. "We will provide more beds, but simultaneously, we aim to transfer services from the Dooradoyle site that aren’t critical to its operation," she explained.
As part of this initiative, a surgical hub is being established, which is expected to shift approximately 10,000 procedures away from UHL. "These are the types of scheduled operations that do not require the resources of an acute hospital, which should primarily serve patients who are severely ill or have suffered trauma," she noted.
To advance Option B, the minister mentioned her intention to direct the Health Service Executive (HSE) to secure an available suitable site nearby, create a project board, and further investigate possibilities for relocating services away from the main Dooradoyle campus. While ongoing efforts are being made by the HSE to identify a location in the broader Limerick area, she refrained from providing specific details to avoid any potential financial implications regarding a particular site.
Additionally, Minister Carroll MacNeill highlighted the need to consider which services could be relocated to Ennis, Saint John’s, and Nenagh to help reduce congestion at the Dooradoyle site.
To move forward with Option C, which involves building a new hospital, she indicated that the ministerial team and the Department of Health will develop a strategic plan aimed at systematically organizing services and investing in healthcare within the Mid West region. "There is a clear necessity for another hospital facility of substantial scale in the midwest. As we progress with site acquisition, we will explore all possible flexible approaches to implementing Option C," she stated.
"This is a dialogue I need to engage in with healthcare professionals over time, and it’s also a conversation that needs to occur within the cabinet."
She concluded by explaining that these measures will shape future plans for accelerated infrastructure development, bed capacity, and overall hospital capability in the region, all of which will be detailed in a forthcoming Memorandum for Government to be presented in 2026.
