Work begins on new hospital

A NEW state-of-the-art hospital is set to open on the Southside next year.

Before Christmas the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, formally “turned the sod” on Peamount Healthcare’s new 100-bed development in Newcastle.

 The €24 million development was funded by the sale of lands belonging to Peamount Healthcare and a significant capital investment from the Health Service Executive.

Peamount Healthcare is an independent voluntary organisation that operates in partnership with the HSE to provide a range of health and social care services for the Dublin Mid Leinster Region.

Peamount Healthcare currently operates 219 beds between campus and community services with a headcount of 500 employees.

 Minister Harris stated that when he asked a resident what it was like to live in Peamount they had replied, “heaven on earth”.

 Minister Harris also noted that he was “extraordinary proud of the people who work in our health service”, as he thanked the staff working in Peamount for providing excellent care to people with complex needs.

 Peamount Healthcare has a long history dating back to 1912 when the facility opened as a tuberculosis sanatorium.

It quickly became the largest such unit in Ireland and developed as a centre of excellence delivering high quality care to patients and service users.

In the 1960s Peamount changed service direction and opened residential services for intellectual disabilities.

 Since that time services have expanded and developed and now includes rehabilitation care and services for a range of conditions.

Minister Harris noted that in the past Peamount made an incredible contribution to tackling tuberculosis.

“I would say the challenge now for Peamount and for the next generation of leaders is to tackle one of the great challenges of today that our health service is facing and that is a demographic challenge”, he said.

“Our population is growing and our population is aging and will have healthcare needs.

“What you are doing here today is already beginning to fulfil that challenge in providing residential and short stay care and looking after people with complex needs.”

The minister added: “I am really excited about the difference this development is going to make as it’s going to add additional beds to our health service.”