Plans are on schedule to complete upgrades in and return patients to St Vincent’s Care Centre by March, 2017.
This was confirmed at last week’s meeting of the Athlone Municipal District via a letter from HSE area manager Joe Ruane. The news will quell concerns raised recently that the works had fallen behind schedule.
The works to be completed at the centre include: rewiring; a nurse call system; increased socket outlets at the patient bed head; general lighting and reading lights at each bed head; significantly increased infrastructure for data/telephone services to all areas including patient locations; and a revised and consolidated CCTV system with interface capabilities.
The rewiring will eliminate the previous risks and shortfalls in the systems and services onsite, and will increase and improve the capacity and functional nature of the hospital from a services perspective.
The life safety systems, fire detection, and emergency lighting, will be to the latest standards. Full height solid partitions in multiple-bed wards will replace the low-level glazed screens to improve privacy. Where possible, some of the multi-wards will be split to smaller multi-bed rooms to improve resident privacy and accommodation further.
Wash hand basins in clinical areas will be upgraded to meet the current HTM Standards in Patient Care areas, and all passive fire-stopping works associated with Fire Risk Assessment will be upgraded.
A number of measures will be taken to improve the aesthetic appearance of the facility, including the complete redecorating and painting of the building internally. New demountable ceilings will be installed in a number of areas to improve appearance and for ease of cleaning.
Other works include the replacement and relocation of the existing oil storage tank, the replacement of resident lockers, wardrobes, and items of loose furniture, and the replacement of window and cubicle blinds and curtains.
Joe Ruane of the HSE is expected to visit the January meeting of the Athlone Municipal District to provide a further update.
