Our senior clinical team met with Minister Simon Harris, officials from the Dept of Health and Saolta Executive at Leinster House. The Minister for Health confirmed the 50 bed unit is goingahead!

The delegation from Portiuncula Hospital James Keane General Manager, Máire Kelly, Clinical Support Services Director, Marita Fogarty, Director of Nursing, Dr Vincent Parsons consultant gave a presentation on the current situation with overcrowding and lack of proper facilities for
patients. The replacement 50 bed unit for Portiuncula Hospital was listed in the recently published HSE Capital Plan and this project has been in the making since 2012 with planning permission granted in August 2016.

Over 400,000 people count Portiuncula as their hospital, if you live in Athlone, more than likely you were born in this hospital with an average of 1,600 births per year. It covers East Galway, Roscommon, Offaly, Westmeath, North Tipperary. This 50 bed replacement unit is urgently required as overcrowding and people waiting on trolleys is already reaching record highs for end of August – currently there are only 13 single rooms in Portiuncula University Hospital with the majority of patients crowded into 6-8 bed wards.

Cllr Aisling Dolan highlighted
‘Minister Harris confirmed that tenders for enabling works (preparation of the area) will start shortly followed by construction of the 50 bed unit. This will replace many 6 or 8 bed units and bring patient accommodation up to the highest standards ensuring our patients and families have better dignity when ill and vulnerable, better quality of care in smaller wards, better safety in less cramped facilities.
This meeting was organised as part of my pact with the Independents and FG in Galway County Council. Thank you to my colleague Cathaoirleach Jimmy McClearn for his work in organising this meeting and to Denis Naughten TD for his continued focus on Portiuncula Hospital.

This is a major development for Portiuncula University Hospital covering East Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath & North Tipperary and tribute has to be paid to the teams who have worked on this project to improve our hospital and patient care since 2012.’ Following on from our meeting yesterday, Minister Harris also confirmed plans to visit Ballinasloe and meet the teams in Portiuncula University Hospital in October 2019 in relation to this project. Elected representatives and Oireachtas members, Denis Naughten TD, Eugene Murphy TD, Anne Rabbitte TD, Senator Maura Hopkins from the area also joined the meeting and expressed support to the Taoiseach and highlighted the urgency of this project.

BACKGROUND
Portiuncula University Hospital & Medical Academy is an acute level 3 hospital in acute surgery, emergency department and maternity services. And a recognised training university hospital with next generation of doctors and healthcare professionals from NUI Galway and University of Limerick.

Excellence in healthcare is crucial and our support is vital to help our hospital and healthcare community to maintain the current service and number of beds. Currently the existing 6 & 8 bedrooms, dating to the 1940s, do not allow patients receive the treatment they need in a way that respects patient dignity. 3-4 toilets/ showers per ward does not meeting national or international standards. And adequate space to allow our healthcare professionals and medical equipment gain
access to the bedside is crucial. A replacement 50 bed unit is a vital requirement to ensure that we can deliver the best in patient care.

CONTACTS
Aisling Dolan Cllr (Ind) – 086 3690719 aislingdolan@cllr.galwaycoco.ie
 Dr Vincent Parsons, consultant radiologist – 087 247 6595
 Cathaoirleach Jimmy McClearn (FG) - 087 254 8723 jmcclearn@cllr.galwaycoco.ie