Tipperary TD Martin Browne says urgent action is needed to end the crisis and deliver safe healthcare for the Midwest.
Sinn Féin says its health plan for the Mid West is focussed on delivering safe and accessible urgent and emergency care services which are based on the region’s population.
It comes in the wake of the publication of a report into the death of 16 year old Aoife Johnstone at UHL which found it was almost certainly avoidable.
Deputy Browne says the bill being brought before the Dáil will make up for the shortcomings created since the closure of Emergency Departments in Nenagh, Ennis and St Johns.
“Its 15 years since the report – bed capacity has not increased in that length of time. It’s actually still below what was recommended at that time with that report. It’s crazy that you think 15 years down the road when all the warnings were issued at that stage we still have it.
“When you look at the figures bed capacity in the mid-west is at a ratio that is still 9% of a shortfall compared to other regions in the country and that’s just not acceptable anymore.”