Fianna Fáil TD Tom Brabazon has said that clear timelines and delivery dates are needed for the new emergency Department at Beaumont Hospital.
The Dublin Bay North TD said that patients and staff alike “need certainty” on when the project will be delivered, with pressure growing on the existing emergency department at the hospital.
“Beaumont Hospital is a vital service for people across Dublin Bay North and the wider northside. I regularly hear from constituents about their experiences in the emergency department, including overcrowding, patients waiting on trolleys and long delays,” Brabazon said.
“The staff at Beaumont work incredibly hard and are doing their very best in difficult circumstances, however, it is clear that the current emergency department is under significant pressure,” he said.
Brabazon acknowledged that there is a commitment from government to begin work on a new emergency department, as well as a round of funding being announced as part of capital funding earlier this year, but said that money alone will not solve the issues at the Northside hospital.
“We have been hearing about plans for a new emergency department for some time. What patients and staff need now are dates, deadlines and delivery. There can be no more delays,” he said.
“Nobody wants to end up in A&E, but when they do, they deserve timely care in a safe and comfortable environment. Staff also deserve facilities that support them in providing the high standard of care they work so hard to deliver,” he stated.
Brabazon called for clarity from both his government colleagues and the HSE on what state the project is in, when construction will begin, and when the emergency department itself will open up.
“Beaumont Hospital must have the facilities it needs to meet the growing healthcare needs of our communities and provide the level of care that patients deserve. In the meantime, we also need to know what measures are being taken to reduce overcrowding and improve conditions in the existing emergency department,” he stated.