Turning of the Sod on €100M Hospital investment

The Government is being urged to provide a clear plan for staff retention and recruitment at Cavan General ahead of the delivery of a major extension at the acute hospital for the region.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was in town last week to officially turn the sod on the development, which represents an investment of over €100M.

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 on the ground floor; inpatient wards across the first, second and third floors; and a plant area on the fourth and top floor.

The upgraded ED and Endoscopy Unit will replace and expand existing facilities. The project, which the Elliott Group is already progressing, will provide for 56 additional in-patient beds, including bariatric facilities and isolation rooms. It is hoped 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 multi-storey 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: “We can’t do anything without the expertise, professionalism and compassion of the staff that work here in Cavan and Monaghan hospital.”

“This is our strongest performing region in so many different ways, in the most important way for patients. The transformation that this region has gone through, supporting patients at their most vulnerable, particularly in Emergency Departments and getting to see them quickly and moving them though the appropriate care pathways has been absolutely transformative.”

She said there has been a 10% increase in attendance at the hospital, and the number of people waiting on trolleys has gone down “very considerably” to “about six per day”. The Minister said Cavan was “very often” in the “patient unsafe” category 18 months ago.

“Now it is absolutely exceptional that they would be there. If it happens there is a reason.”

Trolley watch figures for Cavan General Hospital showed there were 11 people waiting on trolleys in A&E on Wednesday of last week, while there were five people waiting on trolleys on the day of the minister’s visit. The minister told the Celt that for Cavan General Hospital “anything under ten is regarded as safe”.

“There’s a different triage nature for patients that need acute beds, some patients can go home and we call that admission avoidance and, thankfully, we have got quite established pathways among a number of disciplines in the region.

“These are important pathways as we build capacity within our system, not losing the sight that we do need that acute capacity and hence why we are here today. It’s looking at a multi-pronged approach dealing with the patients transiting in our Emergency Department.”

The Minister conceded that there’s always room for improvement. “There’s a lot of criticism sometimes in healthcare. This hospital has put enormous effort in a short period of time to make sure that patient safety is dramatically improved in the Emergency Department.”

She said the PET (Patient Experience Time) in the Emergency Department is six to seven hours.

“It’s all within the norm,” she said.

“That’s a knock-on effect of being more efficient, obviously that improves the outcome and experience for patients.”

Meanwhile, she said Cavan General Hospital has the “single best” proportion of consultants rostered on a Saturday of any hospital in the country.

‘Significant day’

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

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 forms part of a wider regional plan, which ties in with the Dublin and North East Surgical Hub, which aims to “take the pressure off our acute hospitals” and help “improve access and emergency care”.

Regional Clinical Director Dr Eamon Dolan said from a medical viewpoint the hospital as an “incredibly attractive place to work”. Asked on plans for recruitment for the new build, the Minister interjected “we’ve got to build it first” but said they will “recruit in advance of opening”.

“We will take the appropriate steps with this... We’ve only turned the sod today; I think we are a little premature [speaking on recruitment].

Deputy Brendan Smith (FF) welcomed the sod turning, and said the area can also look forward to further “significant developments” with the proposal to provide a three-storey extension block to increase capacity of the Oncology Unit, which will be going to detailed design stage in the third quarter of this year.

Extension alone will not fix problems - Tully

Meanwhile, Senator Pauline Tully (SF) also welcomed the investment, however added that while “improved facilities are essential, this extension alone will not address the serious issues that patients and staff experience every day”.

“Over recent months I have highlighted the unacceptable conditions patients are facing, with overcrowding continuing to place enormous strain on emergency services and hospital wards. I have also spoken directly with staff who are working under immense pressure while trying to provide the best possible care,” said Senator Tully.

She called for “safe staffing levels, proper resources and working conditions that allow them [staff] to deliver the high-quality care they are committed to providing.”

She added that patients “deserve timely access to treatment in a hospital that is adequately staffed a nd supported”.

Senator Tully said the extension must be accompanied by “a clear commitment to recruit and retain doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and all frontline staff”.

Appointments

Meanwhile, a HSE spokesperson told the Celt no appointments were cancelled or rescheduled to facilitate the Minister’s visit on Thursday.

“This was never something we would consider, and the Minister would not have entertained it either. Patient care takes precedence over any ministerial engagement, without exception,” they said.

They also said many staff members adjusted their own days and lunch breaks so they could be part of Thursday’s event.