€60m private hospital in Ennis gets go-ahead

The green light has been given for the construction of a private €60m hospital in Ennis that will create 700 jobs.

This follows Ennis Town Council’s clearing the 97-bed hospital within the 19th-century protected structure that housed the former Our Lady’s Psychiatric Hospital on the outskirts of Ennis.

Applicants, Duesbury Ltd, state the hospital would create 100 construction jobs and 600 jobs when it is operational.

A spokesman for the firm said that discussions are continuing with potential investors .

The plan comprises a “full-care hospital providing all medical services and ancillary accommodation to include 97 full inpatient beds, with 12 consultant suites with 30 first strategy recovery cubicles and office accommodation”.

Confirmation of the grant of permission coincides with the HSE yesterday confirming a reduction in services at Clare’s main public hospital, Ennis General Hospital.

The HSE confirmed that the three beds in the hospital’s high dependency unit (HDU) are being used for general medical patients at present because this is the area of greatest need.

The HSE stated: “We do have difficulties in securing the necessary staff skill mix to run the unit for high-dependency patients.

“It may be worthy of note that since Christmas HDU demands in Ennis have been minimal, whereas in common with many other parts of the country the main need has been for beds for elderly patients.”

The statement went on: “Despite the pressures we are satisfied that the new single hospital system is helping to provide a better service to the public in very difficult circumstances.”

Member of the HSE West Forum, Cllr Brian Meaney (Green) yesterday welcomed the granting of permission for the new hospital.

However, Cllr Meaney accused the HSE of a breach of trust and promise with the Clare public over the decision to close the HDU.

He said: “Reconfiguration of hospital services has been accepted, but this is a step down too far and now we don’t appear to have even a base level of service at Ennis General with the closure of the HDU.”