Our Lady’s in Cashel has a future, and it includes ending the trolley crisis in Clonmel – Cahill

Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD, Jackie Cahill has said that the announcement at this week’s Regional Health Forum that there is no future for Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel is incredibly short sighted.

“This announcement is simply shocking. There were 42 people lying on trolleys this morning in South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. Over the last number of weeks, we have seen consistent increases in the number of people on trolleys.”

“The logic behind this announcement baffles me, and without a concrete plan to increase bed capacity at STGH, these backlogs will continue through the winter and will reoccur next year too.”

“Millions of euro was spent on refurbishing Our Lady’s in Cashel in the past number of years. It’s a solution to the chronic overcrowding in Clonmel.”

“We need political will and direction from the Minister for Health to make it work. No one is suggesting that Our Lady’s be turned into an additional Emergency Department but it can be used to treat and care for non-acute patients who would otherwise be looked after in the Regional Hospital.”

“We heard about pie in the sky proposals, via private partnerships, to increase bed capacity in Clonmel. They have gone nowhere, and we are left with the same challenges.”

“I will be raising this announcement in Dáil Éireann as soon as I have the opportunity. It must be resisted and securing the resources to open Our Lady’s as a step-down facility must be the priority.”

“It’s time to find a local solution to Tipperary people lying on hospital trolleys when they should be in proper beds,” concluded Cahill.


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