The official opening of the long-awaited new 70 bedroom complex at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar will be performed this morning (Friday ) by Minister Michael Ring.
The upgrade for the facility in Castlebar was announced by former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, in January 2014 - the project comprised of a two storey extension - replacing two older wards at the hospital with the new facility, that includes 70 single bedrooms and two two-bed rooms. Minister Ring will officially open the facility at 11am this morning.
Former Castlebar Town Mayor and Fine Gael local election candidate, Ger Deere, said this week that the official opening marks a great day for the town.
Deere said: "It was a priority of the last town council in the town to get this project over the line, myself, along with the late Cllr Brendan Heneghan and then councillors Eugene McCormack and Noreen Heston, for two years, every single month, we met with the management in the HSE to try and push this over the line. Myself and Noreen Heston went twice to Dublin to meet then Minister for Health James Reilly over it.
"It was a priority for Enda Kenny TD and it will secure the future for the patients and residents in that facility for years to come - it is a serious upgrade on the facility that was there. The staff there have always provided a great service for the patients there and this will only enable them to continue that great work."
