HEALTH MINISTER, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG) is to visit Clare on Monday.
A programme for the visit is currently being finalised, with a focus on giving the Minister an overview of healthcare delivery across the county, including rural areas.
She is expected to visit West and North Clare to try gauge a clearer picture of the commutes faced by patients trying to access emergency care.
Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG) said it is important that Minister Carroll MacNeill sees the county’s healthcare situation “at first hand” during the visit. “It’s important that the Minister sees the reality of living in Clare, particularly in west and north Clare where distances and access are real issues. I’ll be bringing her through those areas so she can see at first hand the long journeys people have to make to access hospital care. You only get a proper sense of that by travelling the county and meeting people on the ground”.
Friends of Ennis Hospital had also extended an invitation for the Minister to visit Co Clare and are expected to meet with her this Monday.
Deputy Cooney said the visit will include discussions on a number of key issues, including hospital capacity and ambulance services. “We’ll be having open and honest discussions about what’s needed. The development of a Model 4 hospital in Limerick will be part of that, but there also needs to be strong investment in services here in Clare, particularly at Ennis Hospital and in our ambulance provision.”
“This is an important opportunity to ensure the Minister hears directly from people in Clare and sees clearly where the gaps are. That has to be the starting point for delivering improvements,” he added.
