Work begins on new CF unit at hospital

Contractors are already on site at Cavan General Hospital to begin work on the incorporation of two new out-patient rooms for patients with chronic respiratory conditions.
Designed to meet stringent requirements set out by the Cystic Fibrosis standards, it’s expected the unit will be completed, fully furnished and commissioned by the end of August 2013.
A collaborative initiative between the Cavan and Monaghan Hospital, and the Cavan Branch of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Ireland who part funded the project, the enhancement of facilities at the hospital will benefit people living with the condition from across the region.
Costing approximately €150,000 in total, over €60,000 of which has been provided by Cavan CF, the tender for the construction of the new unit has been awarded to Elliott Building and Civil Engineering.

Exciting
The new unit is located next to the hospital laboratory, the respiratory specialist nursing unit and the physiotherapy department allowing for patients to access the hospital’s full support team on arrival.
Dr James Hayes, respiratory physician at Cavan General told The Anglo-Celt: “It’s very exciting for the staff and management here at Cavan General Hospital that this is happening. Especially in this current climate, we are very grateful to the CF Branch in Cavan for making funding available towards this project.”
He particularly paid tribute to the fundraising efforts of the local CF branch and indicated that such an approach could be adopted as a blueprint in the delivery of projects in the future, given the restrictions on central funding.
“In fairness to the local people, we do have to reflect on the fact that our first MRI scanners, CT, echo-cardio gram, our DXA-scans were all bought through fundraising by local people initially through Friends of the Hospital.
“It’s probably the way in which we will have to do projects in the future,” said Dr Hayes.
“This may just serve as a template by which we will be able to do further work in the coming years.”

See this week's Anglo-Celt newspaper for full report