Extension will solve ‘problems’ at hospital
Permission is being sought for a major extension at Cavan General Hospital in an effort to improve facilities, relieve pressure and resolve problems caused by the current campus layout.
A new Emergency Department (ED), Endoscopy Unit (EU) with outpatient facilities, and a 16-bed inpatient ward are included in the plans lodged with Cavan County Council.
The current Emergency and Endoscopy departments are both described as “undersized” in a report submitted to the local authority as part of the application, while the EU is also dubbed “subpar” in standard.
The location of the ED is considered “poor” in terms of access for patients and ambulances, leading to “traffic congestion” on site.
As reported by The Anglo-Celt earlier this month, the HSE has lodged plans outlining a major capital investment at Cavan General.
Details of the 5,236 square metre extension, by way of Part 8 planning, were received and validated by council planners on March 14.
The three-storey project, with plant room at roof level, is to be located to the east of the existing Lisdarn Unit.
The ED will be located at lower ground floor level; while the EU will be linked to the main hospital building by a link corridor at ground floor level.
The new 16-bed inpatient ward will be located at first floor level.
The plans include for a suite of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof of the existing hospital, and the provision of a carpark adjacent to the extension comprising 44 car spaces, five motorbike spaces and a bicycle bay. There are also plans for a separate larger carpark, comprising 150 spaces, on the internal access road to the east of the extension.
UK-based RPS, a leading global professional services firm, has been appointed by the HSE as multidisciplinary consultants for the civil and structural design of the project.
“The proposed site is partially a greenfield area and a carpark with no existing buildings. The site will be accessed directly from the south-eastern section of the campus perimeter with traffic segregation from the main in-bound hospital traffic shortly after the main entrance,” explain RPS in their design submission.
As the ED and EU are merely being “relocated”, any increase in foul drainage “should be minimal”.
A Flood Risk Assessment and separate Traffic Impact Assessment were also submitted as part of the application.
The traffic study examined what impact the proposed development may have in terms of increased levels of traffic at Rock Cross junction, and “any intensification” on the surrounding public roads.
On December 21 last year, a series of traffic counts were undertaken at Rock Cross junction, between 7am and 7pm, in 15-minute intervals, including during peak traffic times.
The RPS report on traffic remarks that the current ED’s location is “poor” in terms of access for patients and ambulances “causing traffic congestion” at the entrance.
The hospital extension, RPS argues, will provide an “opportunity to solve” problems relating to size and traffic in a single development.
The RPS report states: “These services will not require extra staff and are proposed to improve facilities and relieve pressure on the existing hospital, rather than cater for more patients attending the hospital.
“The 16-bed inpatient ward is the only new service proposed on the hospital campus as part of the development. However, the relatively small ward is not expected to have a major impact on traffic on the surrounding road network.”
A “surge” in parking demand is furthermore “not expected” and the proposed new parking spaces will “simply cater for the small increase in demand due to the new inpatient wards, while also providing supplementary capacity into the future”.
A decision on the application is due on or before May 8 provided no further information is requested.
FOR MORE NEWS STORIES
Click here