Health services boost as €10m hospital set for go-ahead

AFTER years of waiting, doubt and uncertainty, Dungarvan’s long-promised new €10 million 32-bed hospital has gone to the planning stage and a favourable decision is expected within weeks.

The €10m, which has been guaranteed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), is part of its overall capital investment programme nationwide over the next three years.

The new Dungarvan hospital will replace the existing 200-year-old District Hospital (St Vincent’s) and will provide GP access beds, convalescent care, respite care, care for the terminally ill and short-term accommodation for dependant chronically-ill young people.

“Its mission will be to provide local non-acute services and complement services in the acute general hospitals,” Fianna Fáil TD Ollie Wilkinson said.

“The e10m investment will also cover a new 15-place day hospital service for the elderly.”

Mr Wilkinson said this will also enable older people to live at home and avoid the need for hospital admission. “It is proposed also that this day hospital will be managed and staffed by the elderly care team at Waterford Regional Hospital,” he added.

The money being spent on the new Dungarvan hospital will be part of an overall HSE investment of €32m on healthcare projects in Waterford over the next three years.

“The Government is committing huge resources to Waterford through the HSE,” said Mr Wilkinson. “The new Dungarvan hospital will have far reaching and very positive implications for the people of the area for years to come.”

Deputy Wilkinson added the aim of the Government, is to provide the best possible health service to the community and to meet the needs of the people on their own doorsteps.