Construction work has been completed on a new €21 million block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

The Minster for Health Stephen Donnelly TD has welcomed the completion of the new 60-bed block.

He said: "Improving and enhancing capacity within the health service is a key priority for the Minister for Health and the Government. This new block at University Hospital Limerick will be of vast benefit to those living in Limerick and the surrounding counties.

"Within the 60-bed block, there are three in-patient wards. Each comprises 20 en-suite single rooms. Two of these will be full isolation facilities and will provide care and treatment for patients from admission to discharge. The 60 single rooms will improve patient comfort, safety, privacy and dignity, and assist with the management of infection control in the hospital. The total capital costs of the projected build were €21 million.

-- Advertisement --

"The first of these wards will open on Monday 23 November, the second ward on 14 December and the third on 04 January 2021."

The final beds in two other new rapid-build blocks in University Hospital Limerick were opened recently. Haematology/oncology patients will be treated in the 24-bed block, while the 14-bed block for medical patients is currently being used to isolate COVID-19 cases.

The planning permission application for the 96-bed ward block at UHL was submitted to the local authority in early August 2020. It is hoped planning permission will be granted in the coming months. Provision of funding has been provided in the HSE Capital Plan in 2021 to allow the detailed design stage of the project to be progressed. The total cost of this project will be subject to market conditions and competitive tendering.