Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Opening scheduled 2027 – Senator Dolan is calling for new treatment bays to open sooner with 30,000 admissions in 2023 and over 6,000 children presenting.
A Champion for the Hospital since 2019 – Senator Dolan highlighted 51% increase in hospital budget and a third more healthcare staff
Senator Aisling Dolan called for a quicker timeframe to open the Emergency Department expansion for Portiuncula University Hospital this week in the Seanad.
Minister of State Colm Burke TD, in the Department of Health provided an update on capital expenditure with increases of 51% to the budget and over a third more staff.
We have €6.9 million new capital investment to expand the Emergency Department in Portiuncula Hospital and this is for the initial design stage. I worked hard to ensure this was included in the HSE Capital Plan 2 years ago. This investment is a significant milestone, however nine extra treatment bays to tackle waiting times and trolley numbers are long overdue when we see such increases as over 30,000 admissions in 2023. We also urgently need space for children going into paediatrics.
Since I started my role in public life in 2019 – I’ve been a champion for Portiuncula University Hospital bringing the clinical team to government buildings to meet with Minister for Health in 2019 and to see the opening a few weeks ago by Taoiseach Simon Harris. In that time, we have seen €35 million for the 50 bed ward block which will transform patient care in the region.
“Minister of State in Health, Colm Burke gave an update in the Seanad. Minister Burke has close ties with Portiuncula Hospital as his wife Dr Mary McCaffrey was a former obstetrician in our hospital.
There is a real focus on development and expansion at Portiuncula which is the main hospital for Athlone and with a catchment of over 400,000 people. Most people have a tie with Portiuncula as it’s the maternity hospital for the region so more than likely you were born there!
IT was announced that there has been a 51% increase in budget for the hospital since 2020 from €83 million to €126 million and confirmed over 1,000 excellent staff in Portiuncula an increase of close to a third in nursing, midwifery, health & social care professionals.
The former multi-bedded wards in the main hospital will now be put to use to set up the acute Medical Assessment Unit to help triage patients coming through ED especially more vulnerable older people with the Frailty team. An expanded Oncology Day Ward means more people can receive treatment locally and great to hear recruitment of a third visiting consultant oncologist. There will also be an expansion of day services.
I’m looking forward to the opening of the ambulatory gynaecology unit in the next few weeks and improved health services for women. I’m proud to be an advocate for a hospital that looks after our families all across Galway, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath and North Tipperary.
While the newly opened 50-bed replacement ward block and the 250 staff increase are positive developments, we cannot wait until 2027 to see an expansion to our ED.
Why has this not been achieved in the last few decades? Our community deserves better. We need to accelerate this timeline and make this happen as soon as feasible. I will work with government colleagues to fast-track this overdue investment in Emergency Department as we need better services when people need immediate, urgent and critical care when they come through ED.”
Minister of State Colm Burke stated
“ I thank the Senator for raising the issue of capital expenditure for Portiuncula University Hospital in the Seanad and I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this important facility in our health service.
“The Government and the Minister for Health are committed to the ongoing development of regional hospitals such as Portiuncula University Hospital. This Government has allocated significant resources in order to meet the needs of patients using the hospital.
“Staffing at the hospital has grown by 228 since January 2020 - from 843 to 1,092 in 2024. That represents an increase in staff of 27%. I pay tribute to Senator Dolan for the work she has done in getting a number of projects through. Since 2022, this increase includes 37 more nurses and midwives, 13 more medical and dental staff and ten more patient care staff, as well as three more health and social care professionals.
“In 2020, Portiuncula had a budget of €83 million. In April 2024, the budget was €126 million. This means that the hospital's budget grown by €43 million. That is an increase of 51% in just four years.
“Under the acute bed expansion plan, 16 new beds will be delivered at Portiuncula University Hospital over the course of the next four years. Ten of the new beds were opened in tandem with the opening of the 50-bed ward block to which the Senator referred in September. These ten beds will be enhanced by a further six new beds that will be provided between this year and 2028.
“The HSE is developing extra capacity of nine treatment bays in the emergency department, and funding of €6.9 million has been allocated for this project to date.
“The design team was appointed in early 2024 following a competitive tender process. They are developing a preliminary design and outline design scheme to meet the project brief. The target completion date for the project is 2027, as this is a complex project.”
The Minister continued
“The new Orchard and Garbally ward blocks are a €35 million investment, comprising single suite rooms that will improve patient experience and infection control. These have replaced old wards which will now be replaced by expanding the emergency department at an additional investment of €6.9 million. The capital investment discussed today is part of a much wider programme of investment and service expansion in Portiuncula University Hospital.
Funding has been allocated for the design and upgrade to relocate the hospital sterile supplies department, which covers both Portiuncula University Hospital and Roscommon University Hospital. In the area of cancer control, the oncology service is commencing extended day services and is providing an additional treatment base, along with a third visiting consultant oncologist.
I am delighted to note that the national women and infants programme has agreed to fund a new ambulatory gynaecology unit in Portiuncula University Hospital. This service will create theatre capacity for patients requiring general anaesthetic, allowing the hospital to increase activity across specialties.”
