Press Statement
From: Kieran O’Donnell TD
O’Donnell welcomes opening of new €20m 60 bed block at UHL from next Monday 23rd November
-3 inpatient wards, each with 20 individual en-suite rooms;
>First ward will open Monday 23rd November,
> Second ward will open 14th December and
>Third ward will open 4th January.
Limerick & North Tipperary Fine Gael TD, Kieran O’Donnell has welcomed confirmation provided to him directly by UHL and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD that the €19.5m 60 bed block under construction at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) since 2019 will open from next Monday 23rd November. It is a 3 inpatient wards, each with 20 individual en-suite rooms. The first ward will open next Monday 23rd November, the second ward will open on 14th December, with the third ward opening on 4th January.
This is a project that Deputy O’Donnell has worked on from the start and he is delighted it is now built and operational for the people of Limerick and the region.
“I very much welcome the confirmation I have directly received from UHL and Minister Stephen Donnelly TD that the 60 bed block under construction at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) since 2019 will open next Monday 23rd November.
“This is a project I have worked on from the very start with UHL management and the then Minister for Health Simon Harris TD seeking and being granted government funding with construction getting underway in early 2019. I wish to commend Professor Colette Cowan and all her team at UHL for their hard work on this vital 60 Bed Block.
“The 60 Bed Block consists of 3 inpatient wards, each with 20 individual en-suite rooms. The first ward of 20 beds will open next Monday 23rd November, with the second ward of 20 beds opening on 14th December, followed by the third ward of 20 beds opening on 4th January.
“These new 60 en-suite individual beds will alleviate the frequent pressures faced by UHL, particularly during the Covid19 difficulties coupled with the winter period. It will help to improve patient comfort, safety, privacy and dignity. It will also assist greatly with the management of infection control in the hospital.
“I have been campaigning for additional beds at UHL for many years so it is very positive for patients and staff that these 60 beds are now being opened and providing much needed bed capacity here.
“The 60 bed block is part of a €100m capital investment in the Mid-West in 2020/21 in response to Covid and non-Covid care strategic plans. A total of 98 beds at UHL and 24 beds in Croom will have been delivered by the first quarter of 2021, being 122 beds in total to date.
“Furthermore, plans are now underway for an additional 96 Bed Block at UHL and I will work to ensure that these are prioritised for construction as quickly as possible.
ENDS.