New Cavan OPD starts seeing patients

Patients have started to attend the new Women and Children’s Service Outpatients Department (OPD) in Cavan Town.

Work on the new facility, the former Jackson’s Garage building on the corner of Thomas Ashe and Farnham Street, concluded last year.

The latest lockdown imposed shortly after Christmas slightly delayed the opening of the facility to the public, but it’s understood that patients began attending appointments at the newly titled ‘Breffni Centre’ at the start of February.

Ante-natal clinics have been the first to accept patient appointment, with the plan now to gradually add to the services available on site.

It’s expected that by the end of February paediatrics and gynaecology consultancy services will be available on site.

Moving Women & Children’s Service outpatients out and away from the main Cavan General hospital campus is seen as having several key benefits.

As well as allowing for better Covid management and socially distanced treatment, it also frees up additional space in the main acute hospital setting. The HSE has signed a 10-year long-term lease for the property with owners Labelbrook Limited.

The Dublin-based consortium purchased the building and other neighbouring properties in 2018 for a sum close to €3.25 million.

The site was previously leased by Cavan-Monaghan ETB’s Adult Education Services and, before that, by Gaelscoil Bhréifne.

Elliott Group fitted out the three-storey building for its new purpose, with designed carried out by architect Michael Fitzpatrick, and other works completed by local firms Callaghan Electrical and Ashgrove Mechanical.