Building work has started on a new unit at Bandon Community Hospital (BCH) in Cork.

The unit will include two day rooms, a dining room, facilities for families of palliative care residents, a new clinical and therapy facilities and two enclosed gardens.

BCH currently accommodates 22 patients, with 15 beds catering for long term care and the remaining seven providing convalescence, respite and palliative care. The bed complement is expected to rise to 25 once the new unit is completed.

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Originally built in the 1930s, Bandon Community Hospital has undergone various extension and refurbishment programmes in the intervening years. Over €400,000 was spent on minor capital funding over the past seven years.

Minister for Health Simon Harris said: "I'm happy to officially mark the new unit at Bandon Community Hospital. I believe very strongly in local care, as close to home as possible, and that's what the hospital here does so well. This new unit is a partnership effort, and I want to thank both the HSE and the Friends of Bandon Community Hospital, as well as the staff and the residents for their hard work in making it a reality."

(CD/MH)