Major projects announced for two Waterford hospitals

Major expansions have been announced at University Hospital Waterford. Dungarvan Community Hospital will also benefit from the replacement of beds for rehab, respite, dementia, and palliative care patients.

UHW will also see the delivery of two day surgery theatres and two minor procedure rooms along with post-anesthetic facilities. A new greenfield Ambulance base has also been announced for Waterford under the Capital Health Projects 2024.

Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Waterford TD Mary Butler, spoke to WLR News welcoming the additions.

“In what is a key project for UHW, funding will be provided for the appraisal of a proposed 2-floor vertical extension over the existing Outpatient Department to provide an additional 36 consulting rooms, 4 treatment rooms, 4 measurement rooms, and 2 virtual consultation rooms.

“At 2,002 sq metres in total, with the inclusion of 2 new levels, a plant room and alterations to existing levels, this really ambitious development for UHW is intended to progress to detailed design. Those familiar with the hospital will be cognisant of the significance of this confirmation. The vertical extension to the Out Patient Department will provide much needed additional capacity."

Minister Butler continued: “As Minister for Older People, I am all too aware of the importance of Community Care, community beds, including rehab, respite, dementia and palliative beds. I am delighted to announce as part of the upgrade of Community Nursing Hospitals, that Dungarvan Community Hospital is included.

As Minister of State in the Dept of Health, I was in the right place at the right time to be able to secure this project a place on the Capital Plan and it will now progress to the ‘Design Feasibility’ stage as a result. Across the country, 48 Community Nursing units have been rebuilt to HIQA standards, including Waterford Residential Care Centre (formally St. Patrick’s). This is the first step in ensuring Dungarvan Community Hospital will be upgraded.

“In some really great news for the whole county, Waterford is due for a brand new greenfield site Ambulance Base. Appraisal will be underway for a standalone base with a gross internal floor area (GIFA) of approximately 1550 Sq metres, making this a very noteworthy project for Waterford.

Among the most notable other projects on the Plan is the Surgical Hub facility for UHW which will include two-day surgery theatres and two minor procedure rooms along with recovery or post anesthetic facilities and also significant funding for the completion of the new Audiology Services and new Orthodontic services at St. Otterans.

“There is good news in several other areas also as multiple projects are set to be pushed on as a result of funding allocations through this year’s Plan. This is a very positive Capital Plan for Waterford which I was delighted to work on with my colleague at the Department of Health, Minister Stephen Donnelly,” Minister Butler concluded.

Minister Butler confirmed to WLR that the total funding for the project in Waterford under the Capital Plan is in the region of 20 million euros.

See the below table for a full breakdown of the plans (Dungarvan Community Hospital not included).