Construction of the Paediatric Urgent Care Satellite Centre at the front of Tallaght University Hospital is planned for June this year, according to the hospital Chief Executive, David Slevin.
The preparatory works for offices and the crèche to decant to the back of the Hospital are well underway.
Planning permission has also been granted to the Hospital for the redevelopment of the front entrance which is being supported by the Hospital Foundations. This development will start in the summer and will be completed by year end. This new area will reflect both the heritage and academic affiliations of the Hospital as well as keeping the footprint of the building in line with the paediatric development.
Mr. Slevin said the recent publication of Project Ireland 2040 included the expansion projects for the hospital’s renal and intensive care units. “We anticipate that the renal contract will be awarded in the summer with works scheduled to start before the end of the year now that HSE funding is confirmed. We are in advanced discussions with the HSE in terms of moving the ICU development forward.
“We are also in advanced discussions with key stakeholders regarding the development of an offsite location for day surgery. This will ensure patients are treated in a timely manner and reduce the ongoing pressure on our bed capacity. This along with the development of the Simms Building, where our outpatient Endocrinology and Neurology clinics are moving to in June will expand our services into the community and the development around the Hospital as a health quarter in the South/West Dublin area.
“Notwithstanding all of the above on which we will see considerable progression over the next 18 months, the management, Hospital Board and local stakeholders continue to look at addressing the chronic bed capacity. We quite simply have too few beds for the catchment area and with census forecasting this pressure is only going to increase over the next few years. As you know this represents considerable pressures on our ability to see and treat patients in a timely manner. We are progressing with the feasibility study for a six floor unit at the rear of the Hospital on the site of the old HR portacabin.
“It is proposed that this building would have a new endoscopy unit, three floors containing single ensuite rooms on three wards (72 beds in total), a new oncology day unit and pharmacy aseptic unit along with a floor designated for clinical research.
“All of these initiatives combined illustrate how the Hospital is working towards developing a sustainable, modern healing environment. To achieve this there is an enormous amount of work that happens in the background by many departments and services within the Hospital and external stakeholders I would like to acknowledge their efforts and ongoing support and will ensure you are kept up-to-date on progress as these projects develop.”
