€4.5 million will be spent this year on the 96 bed unit at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) as part of an overall €25.3 million allocation to 18 health infrastructure projects in Limerick under the HSE Capital Plan published this morning.
A further €10.64 million will be spent at St Camillus’ Hospital on the first phase of its 75 bed Community Nursing Unit to replace long stay beds. Construction work started last year, when €7.6 million was allocated to the project.
€3.3 million was allocated to refurbishment work at St Ita’s Hospital in Newcastle West which includes a 12 bed extension, bringing the total number of beds to 66 .
€1.06 million will be spent this year on neo-natal facilities at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL)
The €25.3million allocated to Limerick projects only relates to funding for the current year, and not the total for the projects which are being developed on a multi-annual basis.
Referring to the €4.5 million allocated to the 96 bed unit at UHL, Limerick Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell said that the HSE had already approved the preferred building contractor tender and he hoped construction work, which is estimated to take 20 months, would start as quickly as possible.
“I have been campaigning for these additional beds at UHL and I’m delighted that we have reached the critical construction phase milestone,” he said..
“Our region has an historical issue in terms of inadequate bed capacity. Along with the provision of 98 new beds over the last two years, which includes the new 60 bed block, the 96 acute bed block will bring the total new beds to 194 which should help alleviate the overcrowding challenges at UHL.
“I look forward seeing all these much needed health building projects progressed and I will continue to strongly advocate for increased health funding in Limerick and the Mid-west for new health facilities and improved bed capacity,” Deputy O’Donnell added.
