*UL Hospital, Ennis
New PhD research can progress the case for a new hospital in Clare, according to local councillors.
Clare councillors have called for research into emergency healthcare demand and capacity in the Mid-West to be considered in future health service planning, with hopes it could progress the case for a hospital in Ennis.
The motion was submitted by Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF), Cllr Pat Daly (FF) and Cllr John Crowe (FG) at the October meeting of Clare County Council.
It calls on the council to request that the Mid-West Health Planning Board formally consider the findings of MIDCARE, the Midwest Integrated Demand and Capacity Analysis for Emergency Care, research undertaken by Sinéad Madden as part of her PhD.
The councillors are also seeking a written response from the board outlining how the research, which examines access to services, demand, capacity and workforce needs at a sub-regional level, will inform the future configuration of health services in Clare.
Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Guilfoyle said councillors had repeatedly campaigned for a hospital with an emergency department to be built in Ennis.
“Everyone of us has reiterated, stood up, marched for a hospital to be built in Ennis, with an emergency department,” he said.
Cllr Guilfoyle said Ms Madden had defended her PhD at the University of Limerick and argued that her findings supported the case for further hospital provision in Clare.
Cllr Daly said the motion was about ensuring that healthcare services for Clare were properly considered.
“County Clare needs a Model 3 or 4 hospital,” he said.
Cllr Crowe supported the motion, saying Ms Madden had done an enormous amount of work and that her findings should be sent to the board.
Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) also supported the motion, saying people in Clare were being failed by the current provision of healthcare.
“We say we are playing with politics, but we are actually playing with people’s health,” he said.
Cllr O’Callaghan referred to figures in Ms Madden’s research indicating that more than 200 additional beds would be needed by 2031, and said he hoped the findings could help move the issue forward.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) also supported the motion, describing it as “a huge opportunity” to use the research to inform the public and HIQA about inadequate healthcare provision in Clare. He said he hoped the findings would “make a difference.”
Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) also backed the motion, saying: “Every avenue needs to be looked at and considered, especially in rural parts where it is difficult to access services.”
Thanking members for their support, Cllr Guilfoyle said councillors sometimes had to raise motions on issues affecting the county and work together to find solutions, despite their political differences.
“The good thing about this chamber is we all go working together even though we might have differences, we always work together for the better of the county,” he said.
He added: “Hopefully someday we will see a hospital in Ennis.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
