Sod turned on major hospital extension

The sod was officially turned on a major extension at Cavan General Hospital by Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill yesterday, representing an investment of over €100 million.

The five-storey extension at the hospital will provide 7,588 square metres of additional accommodation including a modern Emergency Department at lower ground floor level, a new Endoscopy Unit at ground floor level, inpatient ward accommodation across the first, second and third floors, and a plant area at fourth floor level.

The upgraded Emergency Department and Endoscopy Unit will replace and expand existing facilities, creating additional clinical space and supporting better access to urgent and planned care.

The project, which has already commenced by the Elliott Group, includes three floors of modern inpatient accommodation with 56 additional beds, including bariatric facilities and isolation rooms. It is expected to be open to patients in three years.

Speaking at the launch, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said it is "absolutely fantastic" to see the multistorey extension for Cavan General Hospital.

"It's more than just the investment in the building. It's the recognition of where this hospital has been and where it's going to."

She praised the staff in the hospital, saying "we can't do anything without the expertise, professionalism and compassion of the staff that work here in Cavan and Monaghan hospital."

General Manager of Cavan and Monaghan Hospital Laura Waters said the sod turning represented a "significant day" for healthcare across the region.

"The extension will provide the additional space and infrastructure needed to support high-quality care in a more modern environment and will play an important role in the future development of services across Cavan and Monaghan.”

Meanwhile, HSE Regional Executive Officer Sarah Long said over the last number of years "demand" for emergency and inpatient care has "continued to rise."

"Staff have worked hard to respond to that pressure, often in facilities that were designed for a different era.

"This investment is a direct response to that reality, it will support better patient flow, reduce overcrowding and give our teams the physical environment they need to deliver the level of care they know is possible."

She said the extension is part of a wider regional plan, which ties in with the Dublin and North East Surgical Hub which is to help "take the pressure off our acute hospitals" and help "improve access and emergency care".

For more, see next week's Celt.