South Dublin County Councillor Charlie O’Connor has raised the clear need for additional beds at his local hospital at the monthly meeting of the Regional Health Forum Dublin Mid-Leinster. He moved the motion “That this Regional Health Forum calls for confirmation of plans for the provision of additional beds in Tallaght University Hospital noting the call by a prominent Tallaght consultant in that regard which has strong local support”
In his contribution to the meeting, attended by senior officials of the HSE, he stressed the pressure on Tallaght University Hospital which first opened in June 1998.
Charlie O’Connor received a detailed response from Trevor Callaghan, CEO of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group as follows: “Tallaght University Hospital has for a significant period of time advocated for an increase in bed capacity. TUH is seeing an exponential increase in ED attendances year on year, particularly in patients over 75. They are also seeing an increase in admissions. This coupled with an increasing need to isolate patients in single rooms means that TUH will continue to be challenged with the timely admission of patients from ED. The hospital has identified a need for an additional 72 single rooms and has completed a strategic assessment report which validates the need for the additional beds in the form of a new ward block. The hospital is currently working with its partners in the wider health service to progress these beds to construction phase as quickly as possible.
Tallaght University Hospital has increased their bed capacity through access to begin in Tymon North Community Unit, these beds come under the clinical governance of TUH’s Geriatricians. Also, the opening of additional rehabilitation beds in Peamount Healthcare has increased the beds available for patients who require rehabilitation”
According to Charlie O’Connor it is important that the campaign for additional beds at Tallaght University Hospital be taken seriously and that a decision to move to construction is taken without delay. He promised to continue to pursue the matter at every opportunity.
