A ROW between management and nursing unions at the largest hospital in the midwest, which has resulted in millions of euro worth of life-saving medical equipment for children being left in unopened boxes for the past four years, could be close to resolution.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that it has allocated four nursing staff for the new Paediatric High Dependency Unit at Limerick's Mid-Western Regional Hospital.
Equipment was purchased over four years ago, but has remained in its original boxes since.
The Irish Nurses' Organisation has blamed the HSE for not providing the necessary staff to operate the new unit while a campaign to see the unit opened as a matter of urgency has been undertaken by the mother of a young boy who almost died at the hospital.
Paula Montwill's infant son Sam had to be transferred to a hospital on the opposite side of Limerick City in 2004 for life-saving treatment because the unit was unopened.
Earlier this month, Clare TD Minister of State for Agriculture Tony Killeen wrote to the HSE after he was contacted by Ms Montwill. The HSE has now confirmed to Mr Killeen that it had allocated four nursing staff for the unit. The HSE has stated that it has also offered additional part-time positions (WTEs) to facilitate the opening of the service.