The HSE will spend a total of €1.027 billion on capital projects in 2023.
This will fund the provision of 261 new and replacement acute care beds, a number of critical care beds and support the delivery of Government priority projects including the New Children’s Hospital, advancement of the National Maternity Hospital and specific priority programmes including Critical Care, Elective Hospitals and Enhanced Community Care.
Hospital Beds
The delivery of additional acute capacity remains a key performance indicator for the HSE In 2023, with €94.61m being provided for projects which will provide additional capacity.
In the 2023 Capital Plan, funding is provided to continue the delivery of the National Maternity Hospital and progress other developments nationally.
Ninety-six beds will be provided in two ward blocks at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, 20 in Mallow General Hospital, 33 in South Tipperary General Hospital, a 12 single room modular unit at Naas General Hospital and one bed through refurbishment at the Coombe Women’s Hospital.
Work is being undertaken in 2023 to explore opportunities to provide additional acute hospital in-patient accommodation in line with Ministerial priorities.
Projects Anticipated to Complete in 2023 are, the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Mallow General Hospital and Naas General Hospital.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, Limerick University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Portiuncula University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Galway University Hospital, Tipperary General Hospital and Wexford General Hospital.
Elective Care Centres
The HSE plans to progress the design and development of Elective Care Centres in Cork, Dublin and Galway, in accordance with the Public Spending Code approvals process.
Cancer Care
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €9.89m is provided to support the provision of radiation oncology facilities in Galway, Limerick and Dublin. The HSE expects to complete the New Radiation Oncology Unit, Galway, in 2023.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, the Radiation Oncology Unit, Beaumont – Phase 2, Linear Accelerator Programme, Dublin and Limerick and Aseptic Compounding Units in Letterkenny, Cork and Tallaght.
Emergency & Acute Trauma Care
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €9.69m is provided to address and manage the challenges associated with unscheduled and trauma care service.
HSE objectives in 2023 include to complete and commission Phase 1a of the major trauma centre at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, progress the design process for the major trauma centre at Cork University Hospital. It also expects to progress the design of new emergency departments in Dublin and Galway University Hospitals.
A submission has been received for the provision of additional capacity in the ED in Portiuncula. This is being assessed in line with HSE Protocols and Public Spending Code requirements. The HSE are also considering opportunities to add local injury units in the context of urgent care plans
Critical Care
In the 2023 Capital Plan, an allocation of €5.29m is proposed for the key deliverable of continued development in critical care capacity in line with the National Strategic Plan for Critical Care.
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care aims to increase critical care capacity nationally over two phases of capacity expansion. Phase one includes Tallaght University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, and St Vincent’s University Hospital. Further beds, subject to necessary approval processes, will be provided in phase two at five prioritised sites, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital.
Projects anticipated to be completed in 2023 – Phase 1A Trauma Centre, Mater Misericordiae Hospital.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, Cork University Hospital, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital.
Primary Care Centres
The delivery of primary care centres is a key performance measure in the 2023 Capital Plan. There is €34.15m provided to deliver primary care projects and a further €19.25m for unitary payments for primary care centres.
The HSE said that objectives in 2023 included, the ongoing delivery of six new primary care centres through operational lease agreements and three primary care centres in HSE owned sites, at identified and prioritised locations.
Projects expected to complete in 2023 include Monaghan Town, Clones, Co. Monaghan, Glasthule/Sallynoggin (Dun Laoghaire), Laytown/Bettystown, Co. Meath, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth Kilbarrack, Co. Dublin, Portumna, Co. Galway Roscrea, Co. Tipperary and Clondalkin, Co. Dublin.
Projects expected to advance in 2023 are. Rowlagh/North Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, Finglas, Co. Dublin, Portlaoise, Co. Laois and St. Joseph’s Hospital, Limerick.
Enhanced Community Care Programme
Projects expected to be completed in 2023 include Hub 4 – Galway City, Ballybrit, Hub 9 – Ballincollig, Hub 17 – Clonskeagh and Hub 2 Cherry Orchard (Interim).
Projects expected to advance in 2023 are, Hub 1, Letterkenny and Sligo, Hub 4, Galway City, Hub 13 – Kilkenny, Hub 20, Cherry Orchard and Hub 24 – Tullamore.
Community Nursing Units
The HSE plans to progress construction work on all seven CNU PPP sites for the provision of additional community older persons beds and continue to progress the HIQA Community Nursing Unit Upgrade Programme by completing in 2023 projects totalling 620 beds.
Projects Expected to Complete in 2023 are Ballyshannon Community Nursing Unit, Tuam Community Nursing Unit, St. Patrick’s Community Hospital, Fermoy and Macroom Community Hospital.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 include, Falcarragh Community Nursing Unit, Letterkenny Community Nursing Unit, Roscommon Community Nursing Unit, Merlin Park Community Nursing Unit, Galway, Leopardstown Park Community Nursing Unit, Grangegorman Community Nursing Unit, Youghal Community Nursing Unit and St. Colemans, Rathdrum Community Nursing Unit.
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €85.06m is provided for the HIQA Community Nursing Unit Programme.
Mental Health Services
Projects anticipated to be completed in 2023 are, Tuam Community Mental Health Team Base (including accommodation for disability services teams) and Mount Carmel Eating Disorders Hub. In the 2023 Capital Plan, €27.32m is provided for the significant range of developments to support mental health service delivery.
Projects expected to advance in 2023 are, the CAMHS Unit, Merlin Park, Galway, the Adult Acute Unit, Naas General Hospital, Carrigmore Centre, Cork, POLL Unit, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Adult Acute Unit, Waterford University Hospital and St. Stephen’s Hospital, Cork.
Specialist Community Based Disability Services
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €22.39m is provided to address the continued expansion of the disability de-congregation programme and to support these disability services.
Projects Anticipated to Complete in 2023 are, Disability Decongregation Programme Lifford, Co. Donegal and Carmel and Creighan, Co. Cavan.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, Disability De-congregation Programme, Pallasgreeen, Co. Limerick Aras Attracta (single house), Swinford, Co. Mayo, National Campus for Excellence for visually impaired children (Child Vision) Children’s Therapy, Co. Carlow and Children’s Disability Network Teams.
Diagnostics
The 2023 Capital Plan says an overarching priority within acute services is the provision of diagnostics including endoscopy and radiology capacity to support access, early detection of disease, patient flow and capacity. The Department of Health document: ‘Health Service Capacity Review 2018 – Review of Health Demand and Capacity Requirements in Ireland to 2031, has forecast an increased demand for healthcare services across all care settings as a result of demographic and non-demographic change.
Projects Anticipated to Complete in 2023 are, the Mater Hospital, Mallow General Hospital and Naas General Hospital.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, Limerick University hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Portiuncula University Hospital, Tipperary General Hospital and Wexford General Hospital.
Women’s Healthcare
Projects expected to advance in 2023 are the National Maternity Hospital, Galway University Hospital, West Wing, Rotunda, Neonatal Unit, Phase 2, Limerick University Hospital, the relocation of the Maternity Hospital, Limerick, the refurbishment of theatres in the Coombe Women’s Hospital and Tallaght University Hospital Women’s Health Hub.
Paediatric Care
HSE objectives for the year include continuing progress on the new Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Programme and progress the design of significant paediatric proposals in Cork and Galway. A total of €324.95 million is provided for the delivery of the New Children’s Hospital.
Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, the New Children’s Hospital, the re-location of the Paediatric Department at Galway Unversity Hospital and the new Paediatric Hospital at Cork University Hospital.
Ambulance Fleet
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €14.5m is provided to maintain the ambulance fleet. Projects Expected to Advance in 2023 are, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Sligo Town, Mallow, Co. Cork, Cork City, Athlone, Co.Westmeath and Limerick City.
A total of €5.54m is also provided for investment in the provision of new or modernised ambulance bases.
Palliative Care
In the 2023 Capital Plan funding of €4.75m (included in the primary care allocation) is provided to support the delivery of specialist palliative care services and hospice care.
Rehabilitation Services
In the 2023 Capital Plan, €0.35m is provided to continue the development of the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The HSE also plans develop the design of the Rehabiitation Unit at Roscommon University Hospital.
Carbon Zero
Capital Plan 2023 has a high level strategic objectives to develop an estate that is net carbon zero no later than 2050.
A total of €20 million has been allocated to climate action. The remainder of the funding will be allocated in accordance with criteria agreed with the Department of Health, to projects which have been approved by the National Capital and Property Steering Group.
Pilot Pathfinder Programmes
As part of the ongoing work to reduce carbon emissions from buildings within the estate, the HSE has identified ten healthcare sites where a Deep Energy and Carbon Retrofit Pilot Pathfinder Programme is being taken forward in partnership with the SEAI. Technical advisors, design teams and energy performance contracting advisors have been engaged to progress designs and advise on retrofit works necessary to improve energy and emissions performance on these sites towards achieving the targets set out in the Climate Action Plan. This exercise will also assess and evaluate viable technical solutions which would be suitable for use in healthcare environments. This will also allow the HSE prepare an evidenced based, up-scaled and costed deep energy and carbon retrofit delivery programme for relevant buildings within the HSE estate. Details of pilot pathfinder projects are contained in Appendix 3.
For the refurbishment of existing facilities, this obligation extends to designing facilities to demonstrate as a minimum, a 51% reduction in carbon emissions (from baseline), in accordance with the Government’s Climate Action Plan 2030 and 2050 targets.
