INVESTMENT totalling €3.97 million for health facilities in Clare has been included in the 2022 Health Service Executive’s Capital Plan.
The funding boost includes €1.7 million for Bushy Park residential addiction treatment centre to replace their existing facility and build a brand-new complex with individual accommodation for patients.
In Ennis Hospital, €0.5 million is being spent on equipping the new outpatient department. This funding will also provide for an x-ray room and other diagnostic equipment.
A sum of €0.3 million will be allocated to progress the development of two new operating theatres and €0.7 million will be spent on the continued development of the hospital campus to include the fit out of vacated areas in the existing building to create a Local Injuries Unit.
In East Clare, €0.35 million is being allocated to refurbish an area of Raheen Community Hospital comprising of 25 beds and in St. Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit in Ennis, €1.05m is being spent on a new building block that will comprise of two 50 bed blocks, 75 of these being long stay beds at 25 short stay beds.
The health capital allocation in 2022 for the construction and equipping of health facilities is €1.02bn, an increase of 4% on 2021. This investment enables the HSE to plan and fund the projects that were included in previous plans and to progress additional evaluated and prioritised projects in 2022.
Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Cathal Crowe welcomed the approval and publication of the The Capital Plan being published today is a continued sign of the investment taking place in our health service.
In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, Deputy Crowe said he is delighted that the Government has provided €3.97 million to further upgrade public health care facilities in county Clare. Capital investment has a key role to play in enhancing service provision and ensuring the delivery of high quality and safe health and social care.
“Many of the projects announced by Government last year will be developed on a multi annual basis and I am delighted that follow up funding has again been committed this year. This shows that Government wants to see these projects fully completed and made available for public use in the quickest possible time.
“Last weekend I attended a public meeting in Ennis where a crowd of people from throughout the county gathered to express concern relating to high trolley numbers at University Hospital Limerick.
“As a member of the Oireachtas Health Committee, I am continuously fighting for resources and public health care in Clare and the wider Midwest region and whilst I really welcome today’s announcement, I am also conscious that more needs to be done and I will do everything in my power to ensure public healthcare capacity in county Clare continues to grow,” he added.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.