New 50-bed Portiuncula ward to open in autumn
A new 50-bed ward at Portiuncula hospital, which is currently under construction, will be completed in April and earmarked for opening in August or September.
That's according to Fine Gael Senator Aisling Dolan, who recently received an update from the Saolta Hospital Group and general manager James Keane on developments at Portiuncula Hospital.
Referring to the project, Senator Dolan said: “This is the largest development and multi-million euro investment in our hospital for decades. Our hospital is growing with over 1,000 healthcare staff and it is the hospital for over 400,000 people in our region including Athlone area. This is an incredible development for Portiuncula University Hospital for the people of Ballinasloe, Galway, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly and North Tipperary.”
"In 2019, I secured a meeting with Minister Simon Harris, then Minister for Health and the clinical management team in Portiuncula where funding was allocated to a 50-bed ward block. These new single beds en-suite will be an incredible addition to the hospital for patients and their families in terms of infection control, dignity, privacy especially at end of life."
Meanwhile, Senator Dolan also pledged to continue to pursue improvement and expansion works at the hospital's emergency department.
She said over 30,000 people attended hospital Emergency Department (ED) last year, while Portiuncula is "probably the only hospital in the Saolta group" which hasn't had work done to the ED.
"I invited the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to meet with the senior clinical team at Portiuncula Hospital last February 2023 and he had the opportunity for a tour of ED and to hear of the challenges with lack of space from the consultants and nursing teams as well as patients. We need more beds in ED and this will ensure that there is space for ambulances, paediatrics and medical assessment unit. I’ve worked with Minister Donnelly and the Taoiseach’s office last year to ensure the ED expansion plan was included in the HSE Capital Plan for an ED extension and now we need to see this move to the construction stage," she said, noting there had been a surge in recent weeks in ED especially with high numbers on trolleys and older patients attending.
She said there had been a 65% reduction in waiting lists in the cardiology area, a real measure of the importance of new consultants, advanced nurse practitioners and cardio physiologists working with people in their home as well as Portiuncula hospital.
“A new consultant geriatrician will also join the team in Portiuncula in May who will be working 50% in the community and 50% in the hospital and support the work of the frailty teams. We want to see older people receiving care at home where possible and avoiding a stay in hospital with all the right supports.”