Minister for Health visits Portiuncula University Hospital for update on new 50 Bed Ward Block

Staff from Portiuncula University Hospital welcomed Minister for Health, Mr Simon Harris TD to the hospital today (Friday 01 November) where he received an update on progress on the new 50 bed ward block.

Commenting on his visit, the Minister said, “I was delighted to meet with staff in Portiuncula today and review the plans for the new ward block. I was able to see first-hand the incredible care that staff provide to patients in cramped conditions, in a building which is of its time and no longer meets the needs of patients today.

“The enabling works, which are the essential first step in the construction of the new 50 bed ward block, have gone out to tender and this phase of the project is due to start in 2020 with a duration of 6 to 9 months. The target date for completion of the 50 bed ward block is 2022. This is a hugely important development for Portiuncula and the patients in the large catchment of the hospital which includes East Galway, Roscommon, the Midlands and Mid-Western areas of the country.”

James Keane, General Manager said, “We had an opportunity today to show Minister Harris the current configuration of the hospital and the challenges we face due to the lack of single and en-suite rooms, which are now the standard expected for optimal infection control and patient privacy.

“We were also able to provide him with an update on the next steps in the 50 bed ward block project. The enabling works will involve creating new access to the hospital site for construction machinery and building personnel and also installing utility services to the site such as electricity, water, drainage and telecommunications. This has to be managed carefully to ensure the day to day operations of the hospital are not impacted and work will commence in the New Year."

Portiuncula University Hospital is one of the seven hospitals in the Saolta University Health Care Group. The Group CEO Tony Canavan commented, “Ageing and inadequate infrastructure across all our hospitals is a major challenge, particularly as we need to develop services for our patients within finite resources. The new 50 bed ward block is a major capital project for Portiuncula and for the Hospital Group and it is wonderful to see that the process has started. Each of the hospitals in the Hospital Group play a role in supporting the delivery of hospital services to patients from the West and North West of the country and this development in Portiuncula will benefit many more patients into the future."

Photo Caption:

From left: Dr Marie Christine De Tavernier, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist/Associate Clinical Director for Women’s and Children’s Directorate; Brian Mullin, Human Resource Manager/Medical Manpower; Máire Kelly, Clinical Support Services Director; James Keane, General Manager; Minister for Health, Mr Simon Harris TD; Mary Barrett, Acting Director of Nursing; Deirdre Naughton, Director of Midwifery; Denis Minton, Finance Manager; David Walker, Maintenance Supervisor; Prof Gerard Clarke, Consultant Gastroenterologist/Associate Clinical Director for Medicine; Anita Carey, Information Technology Manager; Dr Vincent Parsons, Consultant Radiologist/Associate Clinical Director for Diagnostics; and Tony Canavan, CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group.