This article is from page 17 of the 2006-04-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A NEW mid-west private medical facility will provide services for Clare patients and take some strain off existing public services, people attending Ireland’s first National Private Healthcare Conference has heard.
Limerick’s new 95 acute bed private hospital which is being built on the southside of the city on the Dock Road, was one of the sponsors of the conference held in Dublin last week.
The Blackberry will provide one floor dedicated to day procedures, containing two minor procedure/day surgery theatres and 12 recovery suites for day care patients.
It will also provide a dedicated surgical floor, providing four full specification operating theatres, six intensive care units, 12 high dependency bedrooms, 65 additional private en-suite bedrooms, 14 beds in semi private accommodation, as well as 16 beds in four dedicated respite units, to provide care to long term or terminally ill patients on each of the remaining two floors. Physiotherapy facilities and consultancy suites will also be provided in the new hospital.
Shay Sweeney, managing director, Blackberry Properties Ltd said that “step down, long stay and intensive nursing patient care will be provided at the hospital, which will ease pressure on the existing hospital services”.
He added that it was “important that debate is stimulated as to the type of healthcare service we want to develop for the future.”
The conference was opened by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney TD.