NEW ERA IS PLANNED FOR LOCAL HOSPITALS
WARDS SET TO BE REPLACED BY THREE-BED ROOMS AND 24 SINGLE ROOMS PLANS STATE
MACROOM Hospital is to take its ‘first meaningful step forward’ since being opened in the 1930s with the confirmation that planning permission is being sought for a major redevelopment of the under-fire infirmary.
An application for a new extension incorporating 24 single rooms, one double room and three bed rooms replacing the existing wards has been lodged with Cork County Council.
Meanwhile, in Kanturk locals are being encouraged to attend a meeting where it is hoped to form a new ‘friends of ’ support group for the local hospital there. This comes ahead of a decision on planning permission for a major upgrade to that hospital, due out next week.
Conditions in both hospitals had been the subject of sharp criticism in numerous HIQA reports with descriptions of ‘dolls house furniture’ and non-compliance with strict operating regulations across a number of key areas featuring in the latest report on Macroom.
However, the HSE has yet to secure funding for the Macroom redevelopment and TD Aindrias Moynihan believes capital funding might not be allocated for the work before the 2020 Budget is announced in October next year. Deputy Moynihan described the proposals as the ‘first meaningful step forward for the hospital’ while Councillor Eileen Lynch, who raised the issue at the recent Cork-Kerry Regional Forum, also welcomed the announcement.
PLANNING permission documents have been lodged outlining the ‘most radical transformation’ of Macroom Hospital since it was opened in the 1930s, it has been confirmed.
The plans include a substantial new extension and the merging of the Dental Building with the hospital.
The redeveloped hospital will see the replacement of wards with three bed rooms with 24 additional single rooms and one double room.
While the development envisages the arrangement of the new bedrooms around three courtyards. Based on the documentation there are no plans for additional beds at the hospital.
No estimate as to costs was available as this newspaper went to print on Wednesday evening but conservative estimates would put it in the ‘millions’.
The under fire health facility had been sharply criticised in a recent HIQA report in which serious concerns had been raised about conditions there, with findings of non compliance with strict operating regulations across a number of key areas.
One resident likened wardrobes at the hospital to those on a “dolls house”, with other issues raised including the lack of shower facilities, cramped conditions in the dining and sitting room and patients being placed in multi-occupant rooms with others that had diverse needs.
Welcoming the news , Fine Gael councillor Eileen Lynch described the proposed redevelopment as the most radical transformation of the hospital since it was opened in the 1930s and stressed the invaluable service it provided the community.
“I’m delighted that measures have been put in place to improve the training of staff and the quality of the building,” Cllr Lynch said.
“I welcome the news that an application for planning permission was lodged with Cork County Council on September 12 which would transform the hospital and provide for 24 single rooms and see all existing wards become three bedroom rooms,” she said.
The disclosure of the impending redevelopment of the hospital came at a meeting of the Cork Kerry Regional Health Forum last week in response to a question from Councillor Lynch.
Planning permission documents were lodged with Cork County Council on September 12.