THE NEW Bon Secours hospital in Limerick has been officially opened by Minister Patrick O’Donovan.
The new healthcare facility, which is the first new hospital to be built in Ireland in almost two decades, will give patients in the Mid-West access to various specialties.
These include cardiology, respiratory medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, endoscopy and advancing diagnostic imaging.
The €213 million investment also represents employment of more than 4,000 staff and 500 leading consultants.
In its five acute hospitals in Limerick, Galway, Cork, Tralee and Dublin, the Bon Secours treats more than 400,000 people a year.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Patrick O’ Donovan said: “It is an honour to be here today, alongside the local Ballysimon community and many Bon Secours Limerick staff, to officially open the hospital.
“Delivering a state-of-the-art, €213 million hospital in just two years reflects a combination of strong project management, clear vision and a collaborative approach.
“The positive impact that it has and will continue to provide in this region in terms of employment opportunities, and expanding access to quality of services and care cannot be overstated. This is a visible demonstration of Bon Secours’ long-term commitment to Ireland’s healthcare future.”
Since welcoming its first patients as part of a phased opening last September, Bon Secours Hospital Limerick has continued to expand its services and clinical activity.
The hospital is now seeing patients through its new Hospital Access Unit.
Its cardiac catheterisation laboratory (Cath Lab) is performing both interventional cardiology and electrophysiology procedures, while interventional vascular procedures were carried out for the first time last week. Diagnostic services have also expanded, with mammography introduced last month.
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The Mid-West region’s first PET CT scanner is now operational at the hospital, having treated its first patients last week. This new imaging technology will significantly reduce the need for patients to travel to other regions.
Jason Kenny, chief executive officer, Bon Secours Hospital Limerick said: “We are extremely grateful to Minister O’Donovan for being here to open our new Limerick hospital. Our investment represents a major commitment to both patients and the community.
“Every decision, from the design of our rooms to the technology we use, to the recruitment of our teams has been guided by one goal: to deliver safe, compassionate, high-quality care in an environment that supports both patients and staff.”
Bon Secours Limerick currently employs 700 healthcare professionals across clinical, nursing and support roles. This includes consultants with expert knowledge across a wide range of specialties.
Alan Sharp, Group Chief Executive Officer of Bon Secours Health System said: “The opening of Bon Secours Hospital Limerick is a landmark moment for healthcare in Ireland. “As a not-for-profit health system, our focus is always on strengthening patient care, expanding access to essential services and supporting the resilience of Ireland’s wider healthcare system, including working with our colleagues in the public system.
“The hospital has been designed to combine advanced clinical capability, digital innovation and compassionate, patient-centred care, and will continue to partner with the public health system to increase capacity and ensure more patients can receive high-quality care closer to home.”
Dr Siobhan Grimes, clinical director and consultant anaesthetist, Bon Secours Hospital Limerick said: “We are extremely proud of our cutting-edge clinical services, designed around the patient journey – this includes state of the art cardiology services, developments in vascular surgery and incorporating robotic assistance in many specialties.
“Listening to the patients we care for has shaped this hospital’s medical priorities and allows us to deliver the highest quality patient-centred care in a place that represents innovation, dedication, and genuine compassion for those we attend.”