FERMOY HOSPITAL EXTENSION GOES TO TENDER
A plan to provide a new 30-bed unit at Fermoy Community Hospital has finally gone to tender. John Paul O’Shea, PRO of HSE South, confirmed that the proposed development is expected to be approved by the end of April.
The general manager for North Cork Community Services, Yvonne Finn Orde, told The Avondhu, “The new 30 bed unit will be a mix of 4 bed, 2 bed and single bed rooms. The unit will include a treatment unit, a day room, a relative’s room, a quiet room and other associated accommodation”.
In 2004 Minister Micheal Martin approved the necessary funding for a modern 30-bed unit to replace the existing outdated facility at Fermoy Community Hospital. Four years later, it finally seems as if the 30 beds will be relocated from the upper floors of the existing three-storey building to the new purpose built ground floor accommodation at a total projected cost of €5.8m.
Cllr Tadhg O’Donovan has welcomed the news as, “someone who has consistently, through the years, raised the issue of the 30 beds at council meetings.
"There are at least eight contractors interested in securing the tender’, Cllr O’Donovan says. “All our focus must be that the end of April deadline is met to carry on the work and that the building starts in June”, he told The Avondhu.
“The Taoiseach-designate, Brian Cowen, when Health Minister, indicated to those associated with the hospital that his department would be ready to approve the 30 bed units, subject to a local contribution. Back in May, 1999 a fundraising campaign was launched with the aim of raising ?300,000 (€380,000).
"Two years ago the fundraising committee informed the HSE that they were in position to not alone meet that target, but were willing to hand over €460,000 once the building was given the go ahead”.
“This illustrates the enormous commitment from people throughout the entire catchment area who contributed so much towards getting the project approved”, Cllr O’Donovan concluded.
Published:
Thursday 17th April 6:09pm
