Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe is an acute general and maternity hospital that delivers a patient-centred, quality-driven, focused service and provides a wide range of diagnostics and support services. The hospital's catchment area includes patients residing in east Galway, Roscommon, the midlands and mid-western areas.

As part of the winter 2020 plan, additional space will be provided at Portiuncula University Hospital with a prefab modular building for segregation, which will provide an immediate solution for emergency department streaming for winter 2020 at the hospital. The modular building proposed will provide for 14 temporary Covid-19 emergency department, ED, minor injuries treatment and assessment rooms, with associated support facilities. The unit will have a residual value for the displacement of outpatient accommodation after the Covid-19 emergency.

The construction works to the modular building at Portiuncula University Hospital will be complete by the end of the first week of March 2021. The hospital will commission the building for occupation of the outpatient department in the week ending 12 March 2021 and it is expected that the modular building will operate as an outpatient department from Monday, 15 March.

The HSE has advised that it is intended to advertise for contractors for the construction of the 50-bed ward block at Portiuncula University Hospital in the first quarter of 2021 with a view to commencing works in summer 2021, subject to the availability of funding.

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