CONTRACT SIGNING FOR NEW OPERATING THEATHRES AT NENAGH HOSPITAL

7th June 2012

I am pleased to confirm that the signing of the contracts to allow construction work to commence on the two new, state of the art, surgical suites in Nenagh General Hospital will take place today.  This move marks the culmination of the investment package that I obtained for the hospital and secures the future of Nenagh General Hospital into the future.

As part of my agreement with the last Government I secured a substantial investment package for Nenagh General Hospital worth in excess of €6.5 million. This package included funding for significant upgrading works, new lifts, new sterile services department, increased day beds and also established a top quality endoscopy suite. All of these works have now been completed and have been of significant advantage to the hospital and to the region generally. The endoscopy suite in particular has greatly enhanced the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and has set Nenagh apart as an expert facility in this field.

I am pleased to now be able to confirm that the HSE will today formally sign a contractual agreement on the final stage of this investment package, two new surgical suites, with an estimated cost of over €2.5 million. Clancy Construction, a Tipperary company have been granted the tender for this project and it is estimated that the building works on site will take approximately 12 months.

During the lifetime of the last Government I fought for and insisted that these operating theatres were essential for the future of the Hospital as the suites in place are antiquated and lacking in modern technologies. During her visit to the hospital in November of 2010 to open the endoscopy suite, Mary Harney, the then Minister of Health announced that the two surgical suites could proceed to design and planning and ensured that  monies would be  provided for this project from within the Capital Health Programme. These preparatory works have now been finalised and tow the time when this announcement becomes a reality with work due to commence on site next week.

These new operating theatres will be an important boost for Nenagh Hospital and will guarantee its future as a centre of excellence for healthcare in Tipperary. These units will increase the throughput of the hospital and protect its status ensure as a vibrant essential service into the future.