An announcement today that Tipperary University Hospital will add 33 beds to its capacity 'could end the trolly crisis in Tipperary once and for all'
That's according to Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill, who was informed of the news by party colleague and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly this morning.
The redevelopment of St Michael's in Clonmel will add the extra beds to the main hospital through a corridor at a cost of 7 million euro.
And speaking to Beat News, Cahill says manager of the hospital Maria Barry believes it will make a huge difference.
"She said to me 'we have 14 people on trolleys today in the hospital', and that's at the start of a weekend on a Saturday morning and that will only get worse as the weekend went on.
"To have the 33 extra beds coming into the system should alleviate the trolley crisis once and for all in Tipperary University Hospital.
"And it's a real cost-effective proposal, (spending) several million to get extra 33 beds into the system is great value for money."
It may also lead to further capacity added in another Tipperary facility, St Brigid's Hospital in Carrick-on-Suir, which was closed down last year. While the Dean Maxwell nursing home in Roscrea is also awaiting much-needed funding.
"These are two infrastructure projects I'm continuing to push with the Minister.
"Hopefully we'll get a breakthrough shortly, but they're top of our agenda...to get the investment both sides need to where they can contribute to the health system in the county."
