Work will begin next year on a new 50-bed block at Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe. The contract for the project will be awarded in early 2022, Deputy Denis Naughten confirmed this week.
He said the HSE expects to receive tenders for the project in December. The contract for construction is expected to be awarded early next year.
Deputy Naughten also stated that provision has been made, both in terms of groundworks and the design of the new 50-bed ward block, for the construction of a further 50 bed ward block extension at a future date.
The local TD was disappointed with the HSE’s response regarding the project, he said. “It has been frustratingly slow in progressing this construction project since I secured the commitment for the ward block development at Portiuncula Hospital from Health Minister Simon Harris in 2018.
“We have been told that these delays were in part ‘due to design development and the carrying out of due diligence of all tender documents,’ but the fact remains that this project should have been completed in advance of this winter.”
He claimed the delay has led to “serious overcrowding” at the Ballinasloe hospital. “This has been compounded by the loss of 10 per cent of its beds due to bed closures to meet Covid requirements.
“This time last year, to address this shortfall, the Department of Health approved Covid funding to provide 12 new isolation beds at Portiuncula which were to be delivered by last April. But these now won’t be available until June 2022.
“It is completely unacceptable that vital projects which are needed to ensure patients get the care they need are being continually delayed at Portiuncula Hospital, which is adding to the already unacceptable pressure faced by staff on a daily basis,” concluded Deputy Naughten.
