Approval for major hospital upgrades
A decision was made on the plans this week.
Approval has been given for a new extension to Cavan General Hospital.
The HSE had applied for planning permission for a new Emergency Department (ED), Endoscopy Unit (EU) and 16 bed ward in a major expansion project at the busy healthcare site.
Cavan County Council this week approved the development, subject to 17 conditions.
In the application, the current Emergency and Endoscopy departments were both described as “undersized”, 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.
Details of the 5,236 square metre extension, by way of Part 8 planning, were received and validated by council planners on March 14.
No submissions from members of the public have so far been recorded by Cavan County Council.
The three-storey project is to be located to the east of the existing Lisdarn Unit.
Cavan General Hospital was opened in the late 1980s but has seen a surge in the number of users in recent years following the downgrading of Monaghan Hospital.
The ED has come under pressure, with the unit being placed in “escalation” a number of times due to the sheer number of patients attending. The Covid-19 pandemic further highlighted the shortcomings of the facility.
Seventeen conditions were attached to the granting of planning permission. A number of these deal with preventing water run-off from the site and preventing pollution of nearby waterways.
The ED will be located at lower ground floor level; while the EU will be linked to the main hospital building by a corridor at ground floor level.
The new 16-bed inpatient ward will be located at first floor level.
Other works, including solar panels on the roof and car and bicycle parking are also included. A new 150 space carpark is planned on an access road to the east of the extension.
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.