The planned elective hospital will be built on the Merlin Park campus and will be subject to capital funding in 2021/2022, the regional health forum heard this week.
Cllr Martina O'Connor [pictured below] had asked about the "much anticipated Day Hospital" planned to be built in Galway city: "Where is it planned to be built and when should we expect the project to commence on site?"
In reply, she was told that by Joe Hoare, Asst National Director Estates (West ) that the Out-patients Department (OPD ) services are currently located on the main UHG Campus, adjacent to the main Emergency Department building.
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"Existing OPD facilities are less than optimum particularly in the context of the current Covid-19 Emergency. Consequently it is proposed to relocate many OPD services to the Merlin Park Campus.
"This OPD relocation proposal is consistent with the wider strategic plan for health service provision in Galway City, as outlined in Saolta University Health Care Group’s Regional Options Appraisal for Acute Hospital Services and Elective Hospital Scoping Study.
Elective Hospital will be 'significant capital investment'
"Planning permission drawings for this initial OPD block, together with a potential Cystic Fibrosis OPD building are progressing well following a useful Pre-Planning consultation with the Galway City Council Planning Department," said Mr Hoare.
He added that the intention would be to complete the full design phase over the next 10 months or so with a view to being in a position to progress the project to construction subject to availability of capital funding in 2021 / 2022.
"The overall proposed Elective Hospital itself will be a significant capital investment and will be progressed in the coming years in line with the overall national approach for such facilities," he concluded.
