SIPTU representatives have given a cautious welcome to the statement by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, yesterday (Tuesday, 10th March), confirming the purchase of a site near University Hospital Limerick (UHL) to support the future provision of healthcare services for the Mid-West region.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, Deirdre Canty, said: “SIPTU members recognise this announcement as an important step towards addressing capacity challenges and a growing demand for services across the region. However, we have serious concerns regarding the length of time it will take for this development to be fully realised and the escalating pressure currently being experienced by patients and staff.
“SIPTU members working in UHL and across the wider Mid-West continue to deliver essential services in extremely challenging conditions, where demand consistently outstrips capacity. While long-term capital investment is necessary and welcome, it does not address the immediate risks to service safety posed by overcrowding, staffing shortages, and the increasing reliance on temporary and outsourced arrangements.
“What is particularly concerning is the increasing outsourcing of work that has traditionally been carried out by directly employed healthcare workers within the hospital. This approach undermines service continuity, erodes employment standards, and does not represent a sustainable solution to workforce pressures within the public health system.
“There is a need for the urgent development of a clear and fully resourced action plan to ensure that healthcare services in the Mid-West remain safe and effective while plans for expanded capacity are progressed. This action plan must include ensuring safe staffing levels across all grades, alongside meaningful engagement with healthcare workers and their representatives.”
She added: “Our members want to ensure the service to their community respects the commitment of those who provide it. SIPTU members are demanding that safe services, including appropriate staffing levels, are achieved for all grades to ensure the present and future of healthcare in the Mid-West is fit for purpose.”