Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to outline to the House the position on the proposed development of a specialist rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital.

A Programme for a Partnership Government places a particular focus on several key programmes and strategies, including the publication of a plan for advancing neurorehabilitation services in the community. The Health Service Executive recently published its implementation framework for the recommendations in the national policy and strategy for the provision of neurorehabilitation services in Ireland in the period 2011 to 2015. The strategy made a number of recommendations for services for people with rehabilitation needs. It also covered a range of supports for them, including clinical, therapeutic, social, vocational and community supports.The redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire is well under way with the construction of phase 1 nearing completion. It is expected to become operational next year, it will be a significant enhancement to rehabilitation services in the country and it will have a direct and significant impact on patient recovery by providing an optimal ward and therapeutic environment for patient treatment. This will enable staff to deliver optimal quality care and treatment in a facility which affords dignity, respect and privacy to all.

Funding for phases 1 and 2 of this major redevelopment project, along with the development of a specialist rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital, has been included in the Government’s Project Ireland 2040 policy initiative, announced last year. This provides €10.9 billion for health capital developments across the country, including both national programmes and individual projects across acute, primary and social care. The delivery of these projects and programmes, including developments at Roscommon University Hospital, will result in healthcare facilities that allow for implementation of new models of care and for delivery of services in high quality modem facilities. Roscommon University Hospital plays an essential role as a model 2 hospital within the Saolta University Healthcare Group and will continue to do so in the future. It provides a significant range of hospital services to patients in the region, including extended day surgery, certain acute medicine services and local injuries services. It also provides a wide array of diagnostic services including endoscopy, laboratory medicine, point-of-care testing and radiology, as well as specialist rehabilitation medicine and palliative care. Future growth in healthcare will be in the areas of chronic disease management and day surgery, diagnostics and rehabilitation. The activity levels of model 2 hospitals, such as Roscommon University Hospital, will continue to increase over the coming years as they specialise in providing these services to meet the needs of their local populations.

The HSE has advised that a design team for the proposed development of a rehabilitation unit at Roscommon University Hospital was appointed in October 2018. The design team has commenced preliminary design and is currently conducting site surveys and site investigations as part of this process. The HSE has previously advised that the hospital is also experiencing traffic congestion and parking difficulties, for which solutions will need to be addressed as part of the planning process. Subject to the successful completion of this process, it is anticipated that a planning application could be lodged in late 2019. Once the final design options have been approved, the required capital allocation will be determined. This unit will deliver 20 beds and therapy suite accommodation upon completion and will operate as a satellite centre under the auspices of the National Rehabilitation Hospital to provide intensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation to patients in the west.