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21 Jan 2026
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21 Jan 2026
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An impression of the proposed unit at Letterkenny University Hospital
Planning permission has been sought for a new aseptic compounding unit at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The HSE (North West) has submitted a planning application for the three-storey building, which will relocate the existing service.
An 802 square metre building is proposed to be located adjacent to the medical records building, the mental health unit and the laboratory.
A new aseptic compounding unit, in which individually tailored chemotherapy and biologic preparations for patients are manufactured, was included in a recent HSE capital plan featuring €35 million of funding for developments across Donegal.
The application, submitted recently to Donegal County Council, proposes that the new building will consist of staff, office and ancillary support rooms on the ground floor; an aseptic compounding unit on the first floor; an enclosed plant room on the second floor; and the roof level to include an enclosed water tank room and roof level plant including solar panels.
The new building would be erected on a 0,04 hectare site to the west of the hospital and would be accessed via the main hospital campus via a proposed link to the north of the building. Storage containers are currently on the proposed site and would be removed to facilitate the construction of the new building.
The LUH pharmacy presently operates an aseptic compounding unit, which started compounding operations over 20 years ago.
The unit is used to prepare individual patients’ chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies. A program has been initiated to provide a purpose built integrated pharmacy unit to “maintain safe and effective processes”, says an architectural design report prepared by Rhatigan Architects.
It is estimated that around 1,000 items are prepared each month in the current unit.
The report says: “The volumes have increased significantly over the last number of years and are expected to grow in volume, type and complexity at a fairly constant rate in the future.
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“The manufacture of cytotoxic, monoclonal antibody, CIVAS and clinical trial products in the hospital compounding unit setting creates numerous challenges in terms of staff safety, product quality, shelf life and ultimately patient safety.”
A formal decision on planning permission is expected from the local authority by June 26, 2025.
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