Plans submitted for new private hospital in Tullamore
Plans for a 99-bed private hospital close to the Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore have been revealed.
Tullamore-based company John Flanagan Developments of Tullamore has confirmed it is seeking planning permission to develop the hospital on its Wellwood site, just off the Tullamore bypass.
In July 2021, the company secured planning permission for a four-storey, 244-bed nursing home, 'step down' facility, rehabilitation and convalescence unit built on this site, at Wellwood Health Park, Ardan/Puttaghan
Now, it seeking permission for a change of use of this previously approved facility to a private hospital.
John Flanagan Developments Ltd originally planned a private hospital on this site back in 2007. Whilst work started on the structure of a building, the project did not proceed due to the global economic crash despite huge interest from leading medical operators from around Europe.
The company then sought permission for the nursing home project, which was designed to use the existing steel frame structure of the part-built planned private hospital project on the site, located just off the town’s N52 by-pass
“This new hospital is part of the Wellwood Healthcare Campus,” said John Flanagan, Joint Managing Director.
“We expect that 200 plus people will be employed during the construction phase.”
The proposed hospital would include six operating theatres; endoscopy suites and a full range of diagnostic supports would help to address the deficit in such services in the Midlands.
“Tullamore Regional Hospital serves a population of 405,000 people spread across up to then counties,” said Dominic Doheny, Joint Managing Director.
“If we are successful in our application, the hospital will be in a position to improve the lives and medical outcomes for the greater midlands region of the country.”
“Tullamore has quietly become a centre of medical excellence in Ireland,” said Doheny.
“Not only is it the location of the regional hospital but also it is fortunate to have a large education centre for the benefit of staff along with the recently announced new National Digital Health Innovation Lab. The comparatively low cost of living here means the town and county will continue to attract the best in medical expertise.”