Cash boost for 2022 Donegal Older Persons Services buildings

Over €130 million has been approved in the HSE’s Capital Development Programme to make a number of Older Persons Services buildings HIQA compliant.

The bulk of the money is to be spent in Donegal but projects in Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo also benefit.

In an update published today, the HSE has revealed that the projects in Donegal that have been granted a capital allocation in 2022 include:

· An allocation of €46.33 million for a 110 bed Community Nursing Unit in Letterkenny

· €3.5 million for Falcarragh Community Nursing Unit to make it HIQA compliant

· €4.2 million to make Carndonagh Community Hospital HIQA compliant

· €4.33 million for Buncrana Community Nursing Unit to reach HIQA compliance

· €2.4 for Rameltom Community Nursing Unit to reach HIQA compliance

· €3.67 million for HIQA compliance works at Dungloe Community Hospital

· €4.05 million for St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar to reach HIQA compliance

· And €31.65 million for the construction of an 80 bedded Community Nursing Unit in Ballyshannon.

Works will include the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing community hospital at Dungloe, the refurbishment, extension and upgrade of the existing community hospital at Buncrana, and the refurbishment and upgrade of the existing community hospital at Falcarragh.

Meanwhile, significant progress has been made on the 80 bedded Community Nursing Unit in Ballyshannon since the relocation of the Residents to the interim Ballyshannon Community Nursing unit back in March 2021.

The contractors had finished removing everything out of the existing Sheil Hospital building and this then allowed them to start the new works and repair works to the building. The critical structural preparation required for joining the new buildings with the existing one is near completion.

External works completed back in the summer time permitted the construction of the new residents' buildings where the 80 beds and dining/sitting rooms will be located. The new buildings will have their external envelope completed in the next month or so and will include the connection to the existing Sheil Hospital.

Dermot Monaghan, chief officer, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said this funding is part of the widespread of projects at varying stages of development taking place across Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo.

"Infrastructure is another area where considerable investment has been made. This infrastructure is vital in enabling us to deliver a high-quality service to our patients and clients,” he said.

Kevin Gunn, acting estates manager, HSE Estates added they look forward to working closely with colleagues in Community Healthcare area to enable this programme of capital development works.

"Another facility that will benefit from this funding is St. John’s Community Hospital in Sligo and funding will also see the construction of a 90 bed HIQA compliant Community Nursing Unit (CNU) located in Carrick on Shannon in Leitrim.”

Frank Morrison, head of service, Older Persons, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said there is an agreed programme in place between the Department of Health, the HSE, and HIQA to bring older public Community Nursing Units, many of which are well in excess of 100 years old, up to the required infrastructural standards.

"This Capital Programme is well established and the HSE is continuing to make progress to ensure that all our community nursing units meet HIQA Standards and Requirements. While the timelines for completion of the CNU Programme were affected by the Covid-19 Pandemic, significant progress continues to be made,” said Mr Morrison.