Developer linked with plans to build private hospital in Waterford

A MAJOR developer is being linked with plans to build a private hospital with radiotherapy services in Waterford city. But the two local medics, who have spearheaded the project, say it doesn’t mean they are cutting their links with the development.

Carlow developer, Stephen Murphy, is already involved in the development of a retirement village, nursing home, diagnostic centre and hospital on the Dublin side of Carlow town.

He is also one of the key people involved in the planned multi-million euro shopping development which will span from Stephen Street to Michael Street in Waterford city.

A project office for the hospital at Butlerstown North opens in Waterford city centre today. It is located in property owned by the consortium putting a landbank together for the shopping complex.

Mr Murphy confirmed that he is involved in the hospital project, which is to be developed on a five-acre site at Butlerstown and which has already received planning permission from Waterford County Council.

The revelation comes a day ahead of the final date tomorrow, for lodging appeals to An Bord Pleanala. Local GP Mark Rowe and Dr Ken Patterson, a consultant anaesthetist/pain specialist at Waterford Regional Hospital, have already said they hope that contractors will be on site later in the summer with a view to having the hospital in service by mid-2006.

Amid speculation that contracts had been drawn up for the sale of the Butlerstown site, Dr Patterson said that it had always been the case that they would engage a developer to build the hospital and radiotherapy unit in return for an equity stake in the project.

“This certainly does not mean that we are walking away from the project having secured planning permission for it. It is our intention to retain a stake in the ownership and remain very heavily involved with the hospital not only through to it coming in to service in 2006 but also beyond that when it is fully operational.”