Nenagh General Hospital Visit
Delighted to have visited Nenagh General Hospital this week to see the new addition and refurbished facilities which are very impressive and a total transformation.
The new Surgical Unit is equipped with state of the art high end technology and has a high quality finish.
All the staff are delighted with the outcome and no doubt future patents of the Hospital will appreciate the high standards and quality of care Nenagh General has to offer.
Member of staff Pictured with Michael Lowry T.D.
L-R Josephine Molloy, Michael Lowry T.D., Mary Noonan, Edel Quinn and Bernie Morrissey
The New Facilities
Nenagh Is Now A Hospital For The Future.
Independent Deputy Michael Lowry has welcomed the completion of the latest phase of development at Nenagh General Hospital. I am pleased to acknowledge the official opening of the new Surgical Day Unit on Monday 29th June.
“It gives me great satisfaction to witness another significant chapter in the hospitals development and expansion. At a crucial time I worked closely with the HSE and the Department of Health to rescue the hospital from permanent decline. I had to take unpopular political decisions in the face of orchestrated opposition to my stance. The political opportunists said I had got it wrong and forecast the closure of the hospital. I am glad that I had the courage to pursue my conviction on what I considered was the best option to safeguard a role for the hospital and secure it’s future. My representations resulted in agreement to include Nenagh in the National Capital Programme with an investment of 6.5 million. Funds were earmarked for new lifts, new endoscopy unit, additional recovery unit, new surgical suites together with general restoration and refurbishment work. My commitment and ability to deliver on this development programme and funding package was frequently questioned, but now the results are evident with modern fully equipped facilities available to the public”.
Deputy Lowry added “Nenagh General Hospital has now established a very influential and abiding role in the delivery of endoscopy, diagnostic and surgical procedures for the people of Tipperary and the Mid-West region. Under the new HSE structures the Hospital also provides an expanded range of consultancy specialists at it’s outpatient clinic centre.
Since the re-development and restructuring of services the throughput of patients has increased by an average of 40%. Nenagh General Hospital is now a thriving, bustling successful health care centre with opportunities to further grow and expand”.
Deputy Lowry commended the management and staff of the hospital for their continued hard work and determination. Their professionalism and efficiency is an essential factor in the continued success of Nenagh General Hospital.
Michael Lowry. T.D.
HSE Mismanagement leads to Temporary Loss of Services in Nenagh General Hospital
30th April 2014
I believe that HSE mismanagement and lack of forward planning is to blame for the closure of the Local Injuries Unit in Nenagh General Hospital on Friday last. This Unit operated on drastically restricted hours on Friday last, as a result of staff shortages and was closed to the people of North Tipperary for the entire morning.
On Friday the Local Injuries Unit only opened from 1pm to 7pm, rather than the normal operating hours of 8am to 8pm. It is hugely embarrassing for the HSE that this service was so drastically reduced simply because a medic simply didn’t turn up. Such a situation should never have occurred as the HSE should have been aware of this issue in advance and taken steps to secure appropriate cover.
Nenagh Hospital is a fantastic facility that has seen massive investment and improvements in recent years. As part of my agreement with the last Government I secured a substantial investment package for Nenagh General Hospital. I fought for and insisted this funding be provided to secure the future of the Hospital. Since securing this investment package the throughput at Nenagh Hospital and those availing of its services has increased by 40%. It is now a thriving, bustling successful healthcare centre and is continuing to grow and expand. It is grossly unacceptable to have such an important unit in this state of the art facility sitting idle on any given day and I am calling on the HSE to ensure that this situation never arises again.
What happened in Nenagh on Friday last is symptomatic of what is happening right across the health service. Health services across Tipperary are grossly understaffed and in chaos at present, and it is the public that are suffering. Staff shortages are putting incredible pressure on core staff and resulting in massive delay for patients. There have been vicious cuts across the board and despite the best efforts of staff on this ground this is reflected in the quality and level of services being provided to patients in Tipperary.
Steps need to be taken immediately to resolve this situation. The HSE and the IMO need to co-operate to find a solution. Nenagh hospital and its patients should not suffer as a result of aggravation and tension between the IMO and the HSE.
Next Phase of Investment in Nenagh General Hospital is Hugely Welcome
14th January 2014
I welcome the confirmation that the next phase of investment in Nenagh General Hospital is now due to commence. The allocation of €2.2 million for a 16 bed medical wing to be constructed in the Hospital will be a significant boost to the hospital going forward.
As part of my agreement with the last Government I secured a substantial investment package for Nenagh General Hospital. I was primarily concerned with upgrading and improving the facilities and services available in the hospital. This package included funding for significant upgrading works, new lifts, new surgical suites, increased day beds and a top quality endoscopy suite. With the endoscopy unit up and running and the surgical suites now nearing completion I am hugely pleased that the next phase of development, in the form of the new 16 bed unit and upgrading of wards, is now moving ahead.
During the lifetime of the last Government I fought for and insisted this funding be provided to secure the future of the Hospital as many of the rooms in place are antiquated, not up to standard and lacking in modern technologies. These will now be replaced with new, modern, state of the art rooms and a revamp of wards. These room upgrades and new facilities will guarantee the future of Nenagh General Hospital as a centre of excellence for healthcare in Tipperary, as evidenced by the drastically increased patient numbers in recent years.
Since securing this investment package the throughput at Nenagh Hospital and those availing of its services has increased by 40%. It is now a thriving, bustling successful healthcare centre and is continuing to grow and expand. Once the surgical suites are operational, footfall through the hospital will again increase. This in turn is taking some pressure off the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
The improved services in the hospital have now secured the future of the hospital based on the activity created. I would like to commend the management and staff of the hospital for their continued hard work and determination. Their professionalism and efficiency is an essential factor in the continued growth and success of our hospital.
Nenagh Hospital to Lose Coronary Care Unit
11th September 2012
It is my belief that the North Tipperary Government Deputies have failing to protect vital services in Nenagh General Hospital. The Coronary Care Unit in Nenagh Hospital is now facing closure as a result of continued cutbacks. This essentially means that any coronary related referrals from General Practitioners will now be directed to Limerick and there will be no coronary care available in Nenagh.
Our current government deputies have failed miserably in protecting our hospital and the results are now evident today. During the period of the last Government I secured in excess of €4 million in funding for Nenagh General Hospital the progression of the surgical suites to the final stage marks the culmination of this investment, the benefits of which are now being reaped by the Hospital and the community.
For example the state of the art endoscopy suite has proven to be a major benefit to the Hospital. The construction of this two-room endoscopy suite attached to the hospital was announced by myself in 2009. This project has facilitated the development of endoscopy services on site which has enhanced the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and for the region. The completion of the endoscopy suite has set Nenagh apart as an expert facility and had radically increased the throughput of patients through the hospital. This facility is one of the busiest of its kind. Additionally the new surgical suites are continuing to progress and are actually ahead of schedule.
The only area of the hospital that required care and protection is the Coronary Care Unit and this has not been done. Minister Kelly and Deputy Coonan must stand up and be counted and fight for the protection and retention of services in our local hospital.
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.
Positive Results for Nenagh General Hospital in Healthstat Report
15th May 2012
I am hugely pleased with the positive performance of Nenagh General Hospital, as lauded in the most recent Healthstat report, published earlier this week. Healthstat is a branch of the HSE that aims to provide up to date information on the performance standards of Irish hospitals. Their most recent report examines hospitals across the country, including Tipperary Hospitals.
Nenagh General Hospital was given a green light, the highest mark, for the three key areas of access, integration and resources.
These positive results secured by Nenagh General Hospital in the latest Healthstat report are a tribute to the staff and management of the hospital and serve as proof that the substantial investment package that was secured for the hospital was hugely successful and is continuing to pay dividends. During the period of the last Government I secured in excess of €4 million in funding for Nenagh General Hospital this was a key investment package that was aimed at modernising, specialising and focusing hospital resources. This investment included over €2 million for a state of the art endoscopy suite, a new sterile services department and two new lifts. All of these facilities have become fully operational with huge success. Indeed these new facilities have served to greatly increase the throughput of the hospital. In the past year alone the patient footfall through the hospital has increased by 40%. The on-going development of new surgical suites on site will continue to advance and improve services in the hospital.
The benefits of this investment package are now being reaped by the Hospital and the community. This funding was essential to upgrade the services available in Nenagh General Hospital and served to bring the hospital up to the most modern and advanced standards. By investing in the hospital its security into the future has now been cemented.
I would like to commend the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and determination. The efficient management and operating of these new facilities is an essential factor in their success and is a tribute to their professionalism.
Green Light expected for €3.5 million Nenagh Surgical Theatre
21st February 2012
I am pleased to announce that two new surgical suites for Nenagh General Hospital are now nearing the final stages and are due to be approved by the Department of Health in the coming weeks.
As part of my agreed overall plan with the last Government in respect of Nenagh Hospital we are now ready for the Department of Health to sign off on the two new surgical suites for the hospital. I 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. As a result this project was included in the HSE National Plan. During her visit to the hospital in November of 2010 to open the endoscopy suite, Mary Harney, the Minister of Health at the time announced that the two surgical suites could proceed to design and planning at an estimated cost at €3.5 million.
Since then the surgical suites have been progressed to the final stage. All consultations have taken place, theatre designs have been completed and tenders for the works have been accepted. We are now awaiting Departmental approval to allow the construction works to commence. A decision to proceed to construction is expected in the coming weeks.
These new operating theatres will be a further boost for Nenagh Hospital and will again further its development as a centre of excellence for healthcare in the Mid-West. I believe that these units will again advance the case of the hospital and secure its future as it continues to grow and expand.
The large investment package for Nenagh General Hospital which I advanced in return for supporting the last Government has been of huge benefit to the Hospital. As the benefit of this investment becomes evident, the future of the Hospital is secure based on the huge success of these facilitates, in particular the state of the art endoscopy suite that was developed on site. This top class facility and the other substantial interventions and investment in Nenagh Hospital have greatly increased the throughput of the Hospital.
During the period of the last Government I secured in excess of €4 million in funding for Nenagh General Hospital. The progression of the surgical suites to the final stage marks the culmination of this investment, the benefits of which are now being reaped by the Hospital and the community.
During that Government I fought for and secured a large investment package for Nenagh General Hospital which was essential to upgrade the services available there. This investment included over €2 million for a state of the art endoscopy suite, a new sterile services department, two new lifts. All of these facilities have become fully operational with huge success.
The construction of a two-room endoscopy suite attached to the hospital was announced by myself in 2009. This project has facilitated the development of endoscopy services on site which has enhanced the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and for the region. The completion of the endoscopy suite has set Nenagh apart as an expert facility.
After speaking to Management of the HSE Mid-West, I have been informed that the new services and in particular the endoscopy suite have been of huge benefit in furthering the development and growth of Nenagh Hospital. In the past year the throughput at Nenagh Hospital and those availing of its services has increased by 40%. This is as a direct result of the endoscopy suite which greatly increases patient numbers through the hospital. The success of this suite and the improved services in the hospital have now secured the future of the hospital based on the activity created. I would like to commend the management and staff of the hospital for their hard work and determination. The efficient management and operating of these new facilities is an essential factor in their success and is a tribute to their professionalism
Lowry deal pays dividends: work begins on new Endoscopy Unit and Lifts at Nenagh General
26th November 2009
Independent Deputy Michael Lowry hailed the beginning of works at Nenagh General, in accordance with his agreement with an Taoiseach, as a major step forward for the Hospital, with work on a new endoscopy unit beginning in earnest.
Sanction and funding has also been secured for a new lift system to ensure accessibility to the proposed new surgical theatre suite.
Lowry said, “The sanctioning of funding and the beginning of works is a major step forward in securing the future of Nenagh General Hospital.
I am confident that the beginning of this work will pave the way for the hospital to enter into a new era in its capacity to deliver further procedures and services to the people of North Tipperary and the Mid West.
During the course of discussions in relation to the formation of this Government, the provision of the endoscopy unit and the new lift system were identified to me by the hospital management and HSE personnel as being absolutely essential to the future of surgical provision at Nenagh General Hospital.
I am delighted that I have been in a position to deliver on this issue and I will continue to work to ensure that the main surgical theatre project is progressed to completion.”
Work begins on the construction of a two-room endoscopy suite attached to the hospital. This project will facilitate development of endoscopy services on site which will enhance the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and for the region. Clinical leadership for such a unit is already in place at Nenagh Hospital as a Consultant Gastroenterologist is on site.
This project will allow Nenagh Hospital to develop efficient services which will be compliant with any review of service delivery across the region. It represents a very positive development in increasing the ability of the hospital to become a centre of excellence for healthcare in the Mid West.
Lowry confirms release of funds for Nenagh Endoscopy Unit
9th November 2009
Independent Deputy Michael Lowry has confirmed that arising from last weeks discussions with government, that funding is to be released immediately to begin work on a new endoscopy unit at Nenagh General hospital.
Sanction and funding is now also secured for a new lift system to ensure accessibility to the proposed new surgical theatre suite.
The North Tipp Deputy stated:
“The sanctioning of funding and works is a major step forward in securing the future of Nenagh General Hospital.
I am confident that the beginning of this work will pave the way for the hospital to enter into a new era in its capacity to deliver further procedures and services to the people of North Tipperary and the Mid West.
During the course of discussions in relation to the formation of this Government, the provision of the endoscopy unit and the new lift system were identified to me by the hospital management and HSE personnel as being absolutely essential to the future of surgical provision at Nenagh General Hospital.
I am delighted that I have been in a position to deliver on this issue and I will continue to work to ensure that further projects are progressed.”
Work begins on the construction of a two-room endoscopy suite attached to the hospital. This project will facilitate development of endoscopy services on site which will enhance the delivery of gastroenterological diagnostics at the hospital and for the region. Clinical leadership for such a unit is already in place at Nenagh Hospital as a Consultant Gastroenterologist is on site.
This project will allow Nenagh Hospital to develop efficient services which will be compliant with any review of service delivery across the region. It represents a very positive development in increasing the ability of the hospital to become a centre of excellence for healthcare in the Mid West.