Calls for unit in West Limerick to ease A&E in Regional
CLLR Michael Collins, a Fianna Fáil candidate for Limerick County in the upcoming General Election, has called for the setting up of a Local Injuries Unit in St Ita’s in Newcastle West.
He said that he believes that the setting up of this unit would help to alleviate much of the pressure on the A&E department in Limerick University Hospital. He believes that this unit could cater for much of the West Limerick area.
“I have had occasion to avail of the services of the Local Injuries Unit at Mallow and I know of other people who have used similar facilities in
Nenagh and Ennis. You are seen to in a matter of minutes in a stress-free environment,” he said.
“There is no reason why we could not have a service like this in St Ita’s and spare people the long journey to Limerick where something as simple as an X-ray can take hours,” he continued.
Additionally, Cllr Collins believes that support for comprehensive primary care facilities in strategic locations throughout east and west Limerick along with support for GPs are key to solving the congestion in the health service.
“Support for GPs is vital,” he said, “Fianna Fáil will bolster and boost GP services if it gets elected to government. As part of the party’s healthcare plan, it is committing to providing additional GPs by creating more GP training places and increasing the rural GP allowance to €30,000.” he continued.
“Every GP I talk to has too many patients and too little time. Very often, by the time people get an appointment with their GP their condition has worsened to the point where they need acute intervention. This is a major contributory factor to the overcrowding in A&E,” he said.
“The issues facing GPs need to be addressed urgently, the situation will only get worse as around 700 GPs are due to retire over the next five years. People should have proper access to care in the community and Fianna Fáil is committed to improving conditions for GPs, and therefore for patients.”
According to its health proposals Fianna Fáil will negotiate a new contract to underpin General Practice for the next 30 years. This will include issues such as Women’s Health Programmes, Out of Hours Services and Services to patients in Nursing Homes.