Norton says HSE should ‘admit its failings’

Independent General Election candidate Ann Norton says the HSE should “admit its failings” over its decision to downgrade Ennis and Nenagh General Hospitals in light of its apology over the weekend in relation to overcrowding problems at University Hospital Limerick.

Councillor Norton was speaking ahead of an RTE Prime Time Investigates programme on the overcrowding crisis in Irish hospitals, which airs at 9.30pm tonight (Monday).

The long time campaigner for better health services said that the “hellish” overcrowding crisis at UHL can only be resolved through a breakdown of the “top heavy” management structure within the HSE as well as the upgrading of Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals to ‘model three’ facilities.

“The high patient fatality rates and overcrowding problems are simply down to the poor management of our health services by a Health Service Executive that places greater value on maintaining a top-heavy management structure than the welfare