Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
1473. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the justification for an enhanced replacement pharmacy in the new national maternity hospital; and if the business case that was submitted in 2018 for same will be provided. [19773/22]
View answer1474. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the justification for extending the existing multi-storey car park in the new national maternity hospital, which is owned by a private company (details supplied) in 2018 given that is yet to be approved. [19774/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1473 and 1474 together.
Planning permission for the new National Maternity Hospital (NMH) at St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) was secured in 2017 and in December 2018, the then Minister for Health approved the awarding of the contract for the first phase of the new NMH relocation project to proceed-enabling works.
The purpose of the enabling works undertaken to date have been to prepare the site of the new NMH and de-risk the campus in advance of the construction works for the new hospital. These works comprise of relocating some SVUH departments currently on the site of the new NMH, such as the pharmacy, and diverting utilities to other locations on the SVUH campus. The pharmacy and multi-storey car park extension were completed in 2021 and both are fully operational.
The requirement to replace the outdated pharmacy had been recognised for some time as part of the wider SVUH Campus Development Plan and was a necessary campus project in its own right, as well as being necessary to allow the NMH development to proceed. The original SVUH pharmacy was located on the proposed site for the new NMH and needed to be relocated, commissioned, and operationalised prior to commencement of construction of the new NMH.
The new pharmacy is designed to meet current regulatory standards and includes a Pharmacy Automated Dispensing System (PADS) and supports the implementation of the Falsified Medicines Directive, as well as bringing efficiencies to the delivery of pharmacy services for SVUH and the delivery of certain campus-wide pharmaceutical services, including the new NMH. The Pharmacy is located at roof level of the existing Main Ward Block, at the heart of the SVUH. This new central location will bring greater efficiencies in the delivery of pharmacy services within the hospital. In turn, the relocation of the pharmacy releases the existing site for of the development of the new NMH.
The early programme delivery of the additional car-parking spaces and junction upgrades is a specific requirement of the Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) planning permission, required to reduce the impact of the NMH construction works both on the operation of the campus and on the surrounding residential area. These works also unlock key elements of the campus for the Main Development works.
The additional spaces arising from these works support the relocation of the NMH to the SVUH campus. In addition, the car park works help to deliver the optimum approach to efficient car parking on the campus. The car park works also provided enhanced facilities for disabled users, additional accommodation for cyclists, and general improvements to the surrounding public realm. As such it will serve the entire SVUH campus, including the new NMH.
The Pharmacy and extension to existing multi storey carpark works were procured in accordance with Capital Works Management Framework guidance for public works contracts and all relevant Irish and EU procurement rules and guidelines. The tender was advertised both on e-tenders and OJEU. It was a 2-stage tender process, and the Pharmacy/Car-park works was advertised and awarded as single tender/contract.
