The Department of Health has approved the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR ) for the delivery of a new Emergency Department and Women’s and Children’s Department at University Hospital Galway, according to Senator Seán Kyne.
Senator Kyne stated he has received confirmation from Saolta that the SAR has been approved for this vital project.
“This is a positive development in the delivery of this project, but there is still some way to go before the project is realised. The proposed project comprises of a new six storey acute block for the UHG Campus including Clinical Decision Unit, Acute Surgical and Medical Assessment Units, Labour and Delivery Units, Operating Theatres, On-call Accommodation Neonatal Unit, Ante and Post Natal Inpatient Departments, Paediatric Day Ward and Inpatient Wards.
“There are a number of stages under the public spending code which require Government approval including Preliminary Business Case, detailed project brief and procurement strategy and a final business case,” he said.
Senator Kyne said while he welcomes this announcement of progress on the project the present system under the public spending code is convoluted, time consuming and causing undue delays.
“Everybody knows that this project is badly needed and overdue and we can all see that if we visit either the Emergency Department or the Maternity Unit in UHG
“I welcome the fact that the processes under the present public spending code are under review by Government, but I believe they need to be urgently streamlined to speed up delivery of vital projects” he said, adding that he is again calling on Government to prioritise this project through the Spending Code and get to the planning stage as quickly as possible.
