A new National Rehabilitation Hospital is to be built on the campus of the existing hospital in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
The development, which is a partnership between the HSE and the National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation was announced by Health Minister, Dr. James Reilly and An Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore.
It will see the existing 120 bed facility at the NRH replaced by a new 120 bed facility, including integrated therapy services. This facility, which will be purpose built specifically to accommodate the needs of those requiring complex specialist rehabilitation services, will comply with best international practice and SARI guidelines.
Announcing the development Dr. Reilly said “For far too long, patients who required prolonged rehabilitation have been receiving excellent care in an environment that falls well short of that. The lack of privacy in the current facility will now be addressed through this state of the art modern development providing best care in the best environment.”
The Tánaiste said “The National Rehabilitation Hospital is a landmark institution. It is part of our history and this major redevelopment of the 120 bed facility, marks a new phase in our future. A future where health services are built around the needs of patients, at every stage of their rehabilitation and recovery. The development of a world class rehabilitation hospital for Ireland has a key role in this objective, and it is a statement of our values, even in these very straitened times.”
NRH Chairman, Mr. Henry Murdoch welcomed this long overdue development, stating “At last we will have a modern new facility that will be purpose built and designed to meet the needs of all our patients. It will be a major enhancement to rehabilitation services in the country and will have a direct and significant impact on patient recovery by providing an optimal ward and therapeutic environment for their treatment in the NRH.”
An architect led Design Feasibility Study has been completed on behalf of the HSE which demonstrates that the hospital can continue to provide the existing level of services at all times during the redevelopment. The HSE, in partnership with the National Rehabilitation Hospital will now proceed with appointment of a Design Team.
The National Rehabilitation Hospital celebrated its 50th year as the national provider of complex specialised rehabilitation services for patients from throughout Ireland in 2011.
As the project is at an early stage of development tenders have not been issued. More definitive costs will only be known after valid tenders are evaluated
The National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) is a voluntary hospital that provides a comprehensive range of inpatient and outpatient Complex Specialised Rehabilitation Services (CSRS) for adult and paediatric patients. The NRH serves patients from throughout Ireland, who have acquired a physical or cognitive disability as a result of an accident, illness or injury.
Some specific examples of injury or illness associated with CSRS include:
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Severe neurological illness or injury (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Guillain Barre Syndrome)
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Amputation or limb loss
- Persons with challenging behavioural manifestations.
The NRH is externally accredited by CARF (Commission for Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities), an internationally recognised, independent accreditation system.
All its Clinical Programmes are delivered by Consultant Led Interdisciplinary Teams. The focus is to provide personalised treatment programmes dedicated to returning patients to the highest level of independence possible following their injury/illness.
Over the last 50 years the NRH has cared for over 35,000 inpatients from throughout Ireland and reviewed in excess of 200,000 persons in their outpatient services.
