Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Saolta announcement this week on the next phase Stage 2 of construction show the crucial investment of over €15 million.
Senator Dolan welcomed this announcement noting
‘It is fantastic news to hear confirmation of the tender process for Stage 2 construction of the 50 bed unit in Ballinasloe. Opening is scheduled for Q1 2023 and this will deliver a much-needed boost for over 400,000 patients and families in the Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly and North Tipperary who call Portiuncula their hospital. These single en-suite rooms will give patients dignity and privacy for families, it will reduce over-crowding and risk of infection in multi-bed wards.
‘This investment was needed decades ago and even moreso in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the design brief for the 50 bed unit was agreed in 2014 and planning permission received in 2016 however there has been no further progress at that time.
In Sept 2019 I led a senior clinical team delegation from Portiuncula Hospital to meet with former Minister of Health Simon Harris. As a new Councillor in 2019, I negotiated this hard-won meeting as part of an agreement to join the majority grouping at Galway County Council. At this meeting, Minister Harris gave approval of funding and visited the teams in Portiuncula on the 1st November 2021 where he confirmed the tender process for Stage 1 Enabling Works.
It was the first time that the team in Portiuncula had presented at Leinster House and James Keane the General Manager of Portiuncula Hospital was part of this clinical delegation who received commitments that day in Leinster House with Minister Harris.
‘This is a win for the people of East Galway who voted for me in 2019.
This is a win for the healthcare teams in Portiuncula Hospital who have worked for years on this project for our hospital. It is a crucial investment in Portiuncula for the future.’
James Keane General Manager noted,
Procurement for contractor services is ongoing and we aim to commence this phase of construction in August 2021. The total project budget is 15 million which will include a 4,038sqm building with a 50 bed unit, link corridor incorporating lift and storage area. Our target date for completion of the new building is Q1 2023
NEW OPD in HOSPITAL GROUNDS
Senator Dolan also noted recent updates on the new OPD modular unit and progress on immediate rooms at Portiuncula Hospital.
‘I’d like to acknowledge the innovative teams in Portiuncula facing the challenge of only 13 single beds and in the face of Covid-19, who developed an urgent plan to move Outpatients Dept to a modular unit on Hospital Grounds and to repurpose the existing space in the hospital to single en-suite rooms.
The new OPD unit is due to open shortly with 14 temporary COVID-19 ED minor injuries treatment/assessment rooms. The vacated OPD space is now designed for 12 en suite single rooms has been approved to progress. ‘
