Progress on Major Capital Projects at Galway University Hospitals and Saolta University Health Care Group
Galway University Hospitals (GUH) and the Saolta University Health Care Group are thrilled to report significant progress in the development of major capital projects at GUH.
To ensure the timely delivery of the necessary infrastructure, a formal project board has been established. This board is currently finalizing a master plan for the Galway city campus, aimed at improving the delivery of essential health care services for the local population.
The masterplan for GUH includes key priorities such as a new Emergency Department, Women’s and Children’s block, Laboratory, Cancer Centre, and bed block on the UHG campus. Additionally, plans for the Merlin Park campus, including the elective hospital for the region and surgical hub, are also being overseen.
A design team consisting of architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, and energy efficiency experts has been appointed to ensure that future capacity needs are met as part of the phased masterplan. A programme manager has also been appointed to oversee the implementation of the hospital masterplan, set to be completed in Q3, 2024.
Chris Kane, hospital manager of GUH, emphasized that these major projects will enable the hospital to offer vital services and improved access to care for the growing population. Separating acute and non-acute services is expected to enhance efficiency and better serve patients.
The announcement of 228 new beds for GUH by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will play a crucial role in the overall infrastructure plans. The new beds will be provided in separate phases, with 198 beds set to be available between 2024 and 2028, and an additional 30 beds between 2029 and 2031.
Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer of HSE West and North West, highlighted the complexity of the UHG campus and the importance of addressing the growing activity. He emphasized that the masterplan will ensure seamless integration of each project, maximizing service opportunities for patients in the West and North West for the next 50 years.
The new plan involves relocating all elective, day surgery, and ambulatory care services to the MPUH campus, while complex acute, oncology, and maternity care will remain at UHG. Work is underway to decant some services to the Merlin Park site, with Phase One of the Outpatient Department block at MPUH nearing completion.
Plans for an elective hospital and surgical hub at the MPUH campus are also progressing, with a contractor appointed to advance the surgical hub. Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group, expressed gratitude for the Minister’s commitment to the new beds, which are a crucial part of the infrastructure plans for GUH.
The focus now is on advancing these plans swiftly while continuing to provide safe and timely care within the existing infrastructure.
