Health Minister Warned Not To "Water Down" HIQA Recommendations On Midwest Emergency Care

The Health Minister is being urged not to "water down" HIQA's recommendations on the urgent and emergency healthcare services in the Midwest. The HSE Mid West Regional Patient and Service User Council has met with Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to discuss the recommendations of the review published in September. During the meeting, the council explained that it favours options A and B of the review which would see bed capacity at UHL increased along with the extension of the campus to a second site under a shared governance and resourcing model. The minister is due to make a decision on the recommendations before Christmas, and Lahinch-based HSE Mid West Patient Advocate John Wall says there's "no reason" why construction can't begin next year.