Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.
Press Release 11th September 2024
Taoiseach Simon Harris Officially Opens 50 Beds at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, Transforming patient care for the region
Senator Aisling Dolan welcomed Taoiseach Simon Harris TD to Portiuncula Hospital this morning for the officially opening of the new €35 million 50 bed ward block.
Today is a day of celebration with the official opening by An Taoiseach Simon Harris of new 50 bed block of single rooms. This will transform patient care in our region. It is the culmination of work over a decade by Portiuncula staff and with the support of An Taoiseach at every stage.
Over the years we have all visited the hospital, to welcome a new bundle of joy in the maternity ward to being at the bedside when family members are sick. No longer will staff struggle to bring in equipment around a bed or try to manage infection control in large multi-bed wards. Now each patient and family will have privacy and dignity especially in difficult times”
Today was exciting with the Taoiseach meeting excellent healthcare staff along the brand new wide corridors of our new 4,000sqm building, with 50 individual patient rooms. We have close to 1,000 staff and thank you to all who gave time to meet the Taoiseach Simon Harris today – I know he very much enjoyed meeting so many people today and to have been able to see a project come to fruition which he initiated in the Department of Health. We also had the chance to see some of the high spec single rooms and so spacious with large en suite as well. Incredible when we think that this is moving from multi-bed ward blocks to this level of care”
I led the delegation that fought the case for patient care in the West in 2019 in Leinster House and An Taoiseach Simon Harris signed Ministerial approval as then Minister for Health and commencement of works in November 2019. It is wonderful to see this fantastic new building which will impact the lives of so many families and I look forward to hearing people talking about the major changes in our hospital.”
The Taoiseach spoke about how this is more than just a hospital that it is part of a wonderful community in the town of Ballinasloe and surrounding areas. He spoke about the extension of day services, the oncology services, funding being delivered for the sterile support department and funding has now been agreed for a new ambulatory gynaecology unit. He also acknowledged the conversion of the outpatient’s department "the Dunlo Suite" and the expansion of minor operations & plastic surgery, the new nurse led infusion unit, the opening of the Willow suite again providing that protected space for bereaved families in the Maternity Unit.
I want to acknowledge the unwavering support by the Taoiseach for Portiuncula University Hospital with investment of €35 million and to excellent staff here who deliver the highest level of care. Thank you to General Manager James Keane and all the team that came with me to Leinster House in 2019 and to Saolta and North West region.
The next stage for Portiuncula is to improve the Emergency Department and the Taoiseach mentioned the positive progress here. I worked to ensure that the nine additional treatment bay for ED was included in the HSE Capital Plan and this is now moving through design stage. We know this is so needed to support extra capacity in paediatrics. We need a TD for the this region and I look forward to working with the Taoiseach on these projects and many more for Roscommon-Galway”
Taoiseach Simon Harris said:
“This is a special project for me. As Minister for Health, I met with local representatives and staff at the hospital and heard directly about the need for this project. I am absolutely delighted to be here as Taoiseach to officially open it.
“I am acutely aware of how much this project means to the people of Galway and Roscommon and the impact it will have on this region. I have no doubt that these new wards will transform the patient experience here at Portiuncula hospital and will provide an improved working environment for staff."
