Clare Fm - Podcasts

A major new healthcare study has recommended that a Model 4 hospital be developed in Ennis, County Clare, as part of efforts to ease ongoing pressure at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The study was unveiled this summer at the prestigious International System Dynamics Conference (ISDC) in Boston, where it was recognised as a vital contribution to global healthcare planning. Led by Irish researcher Sinéad Madden, the work uses advanced simulation to examine future demand for emergency and hospital care across the Mid-West (MW) region. The model, called MIDCARE (Midwest Integrated Demand and Capacity Analysis for Regional Emergency-care), is the first of its kind in Ireland. It uses real-world data to simulate hospital needs over time, considering population growth, demand for emergency services, and workforce shortages. Peter O'Connell spoke with Sinéad Madden, and she began by explaining what the MIDCARE study is all about.