Major refurbishment to commence at Buncrana Community Hospital

Construction to extend Buncrana Community Hospital is due to begin in June.

The facility comprises two units, namely the main ward and the recently refurbished Ash ward, and is registered for 41 beds.

The main ward can occupy 30 residents, whereas the Ash ward can occupy 11 residents. 

During the refurbishment period, 11 long-term residents will remain in the hospital and will be accommodated in the Ash ward. All short-term patients will be accommodated in Carndonagh Community Hospital for the duration of the refurbishment work, which is expected to take from 12 to 18 months before it is completed. 

Confirmation of the works commencing was announced at the latest Regional Health Forum West meeting. Sinn Féin Councillor Gary Doherty had sought clarity on the temporary closure of the Nursing Unit. 

In response, Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Health Area Manager for Donegal, outlined how “Buncrana Community Hospital will be undergoing major refurbishment works, commencing June 2025, to enhance the quality of life for residents in the Buncrana catchment area.”

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Proposals to extend the facility have been ongoing for over seven years. A planning proposal was submitted in March 2017 but was rejected. A further application was lodged in February 2019 and was given the green light but the HSE had to reapply for permission last year after letting the previous permission lapse without construction commencing within its five-year term.

The Community Hospital was granted planning permission for the extension last September. The single-storey extension will house six one-bed wards for residents. In addition, the single-storey extension will also include a waiting area and a visitors' room. It is also planned that the existing smoking room is to be converted into a new day room for residents. 

The upgrade of the facility will be the second major health-related project to be built in the Buncrana area in recent years after the new Primary Care Centre on nearby Maginn Avenue opened its doors in 2022.