Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
The Minister of Health, Simon Harris announced funding at Portiuncula Hospital today. This is as per the recently announced HSE Capital Plan 2019-2021 for the construction of a much needed 50 bed Unit.
Minister Simon Harris showed the progress to date as the project has moved to tenders stage for the Enabling Works (services/utilities/pedestrian & vehicle access) which will prepare the site for follow on construction in Stage 2. Portiuncula University Hospital is a 24/7 365 day a year hospital handling casualty, maternity & surgeries for a catchment area of over 400 thousand people with close to 800 working at the hospital.
The Minister met with the Senior Clinical team and gave a timeline for the works into 2020. The senior clinical team gave the Minister a tour of some of the more challenging 6-8 bed wards in the hospital and the dire lack of toilet and shower facilities in these areas especially for more vulnerable patients. And also to the proposed site for the 50 bed unit where planning has been in place since 2016.
This visit is a follow-on from the meeting secured by Cllr Aisling Dolan with a delegation of the clinical team in Leinster House where the Minister outlined his commitment to Portiuncula University Hospital and the construction of the 50 bed unit. The senior clinical team of James Keane, General Manager PUH, Máire Kelly, Clinical Support Services Director, Marita Fogarty, Director of Nursing and Dr Vincent Parsons, senior consultant radiologist, presented a compelling case. The delegation represented the patients, healthcare teams and people of Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, North Tipperary as well as Galway itself.
Cllr Aisling Dolan commented
‘This visit is significant for our region and the town of Ballinasloe. It is a testament to greathealthcare teams who work in our hospital and who have driven this project. This investment will tackle the huge challenges facing healthcare teams such as overcrowding of patients in 6-8 bed wards with lack of appropriate facilities and it is an investment in the future of ourhospital in Ballinasloe’
Thank you to everyone who voted for me to fight for this 50 bed unit - Portiuncula is my top priority & for over 400,000 people in the area who call this their hospital.’
