Town centre site for outpatient services
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From left to right: Damien O’Reilly, HSE; Gabriel Sheridan, Callaghan Electrical; Tom Connor, HSE Estates; Damien Gilsenan, Ashgrove Mechanical Services; Miriam McKenna, HSE Estates; Aaron McGee, Elliott Building and Civil Engineering; Shane Murphy, Renaissance Engineering; Michael Fitzpatrick, Architect; Cathal Smith, Elliott Group; Darragh Elliott, Elliott Group; Linda Murtagh, Elliott Group.Image 2 of 2
Before the HSE moved in, the former Jackon’s Garage site was previously leased by Adult Education Services attached to Cavan-Monaghan ETB, and before that by Gaelscoil Bhréifne.The HSE is preparing to open a new Women & Children's Service Outpatients Department (OPD) in Cavan Town, with the first clinics expected to be operating out of the building before the end of the year.
Senior HSE officials were on-site earlier this week for a full walk-through before signing-off on works carried out at the former Jackson's Garage building on the corner of Thomas Ashe and Farnham Street.
Moving Women & Children's Service outpatients out and away from the main Cavan General hospital campus is seen as having several key benefits. Not only does the split campus allow for better Covid management and socially distanced treatment of patients, but it also frees up space within the main hospital campus to facilitate further major investment in the near future.
The move will also relieve immediate pressure on other hospital departments and, as a additional spin-off, is expected to have a significant positive impact in terms of increasing footfall to the town itself. It is anticipated that there will be up to 80 staff working in the new building.
A 10-year, long-term lease has been signed between HSE Estates and Labelbrook Limited, the Dublin-based consortium that now owns the building after it was bought in 2018 as part of a major town centre property portfolio worth €3.25 million. The official handover takes place on Monday, December 21.
Before the HSE moved in, the site was previously leased by Adult Education Services attached to Cavan-Monaghan ETB and, before that, by Gaelscoil Bhréifne.
The deal with Labelbrook was struck several months ago when the hospital first approached the HSE with a view to embedding better social distancing protocol and socially-distanced pathways to patient care.
To be called the 'Breffni Building' and managed under the auspices of Cavan-Monaghan Hospital group, around 13 Women & Children's Service outpatient rooms have been provided, with additional space allocated to treat low-care ambulatory care incidents, which do not requiring urgent medical intervention.
Elliott Group carried out the works to fit-out and transform the three-storey building for its new purpose, designed by architect Michael Fitzpatrick, and other works completed by local firms Callaghan Electrical and Ashgrove Mechanical.
Darragh Elliott, managing director of Elliott Group, welcomed the development.
The local construction company is currently involved in several high-profile HSE construction contracts but says the developer was enthused to work on a project close to home.
“We're currently working on the campuses in Connolly, Drogheda, Dundalk and in Cavan, upgrading departments or moving elements to make more space to deal with Covid and to deliver more, say normal services, and in a socially-distanced manner.”
The new Women & Children's Service outpatients department at the Breffni Building is not the only service looking to move into Cavan Town centre.
Separately, Ophthalmology Outpatient services are said to be close to finding their own space after moving some of its services away from the Cavan General site back in March.
The service was available in Virginia at the Primary Care Centre, as well as a locum service at the North Monaghan Primary Care Centre.