Ballyshannon Community Hospital is open

The HSE is pleased to confirm that the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital will open today, Tuesday. 

Twenty-six residents will move into their new home at the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital. The €36.7 million facility is located at the site of the old Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon.

Ballyshannon Community Hospital features 52 long-stay beds, 20 short-stay beds providing, convalescence, rehabilitation, respite and palliative care beds, eight Dementia specific assessment beds and a Day Hospital Service.

The new hospital via Primary Care Services will provide a full range of supporting professional services for the older person in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo areas including Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietician, Podiatry, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, Dentistry, Audiology, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dementia, Psychiatry of old age and Social worker, Advocacy and Spiritual services. In addition, a Hairdressing facility, Newspapers/ Magazines/ Shopping requirements, Dry cleaning and Taxis/transport will be made available to residents and patients.

The new community hospital also features wildflower rooftop gardens, a collection of books spanning three centuries including some belonging to the late Dr Simon Sheil, and a new coffee dock for patients and visitors.

The 1first phase of the opening of the new facility is for the existing residents in the community Nursing Unit based at the Rock to transfer to this new facility, which will allow for care to be given in the most appropriate modern healthcare environment which will benefit their needs and promote a high quality of life.

The second phase of opening will include the commissioning of additional beds within the facility which will take place following a pre-planned re-engagement of the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission(WRC) in the coming weeks.

In preparation for the opening, successful recruitment campaigns have been run at both local and national levels to ensure that the appropriate staff grades are available to fill the approved posts within the Service. The staffing complement attached to the hospital is significant and will contribute to the wider social and economic development of the community in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo areas.

An official opening of the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital will take place at a later date.