Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
100. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 26 May 2022, if the Strategic Assessment Report by the HSE regarding the new emergency department in University Hospital Galway has been submitted to his Department to date, as per the expected timeline of early Q3 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37624/22]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposed Emergency Department (ED), Women & Children’s block at University Hospital Galway has recently been submitted to my Department.
The SAR is currently being reviewed to ensure that the proposals align with strategic policy considerations for the services proposed.
I’d like to acknowledge the difficult conditions for patients, families and healthcare staff working in University Hospital Galway.
I visited Galway a few months ago. It is clear that action is required there on multiple fronts- the ED, beds, diagnostics and staffing.
I am pleased to say that the interim ED is nearing completion. This includes additional resuscitation spaces, support accommodation, and improved infection prevention and control measures.
It is expected that new facilities would be available for patients and staff over the summer.
While improving service delivery capability, the interim ED will also serve as enabling works for the larger project; freeing up the site required for the proposed new block.
I am aware that this project has been discussed for over 10 years and I spoke with the team there about this. I subsequently asked for the development of the SAR to be prioritised by the HSE.
One of the reasons that the project is still in development phase is that there has been a very significant increase in the scale and ambition for the solution there.
Proposals are now costed in the hundreds of millions. As the Deputy will be aware, all projects proposed in excess of €100m must be subject to the full scrutiny of the Public Spending Code process.
If the SAR is passed, a preliminary business case will be updated by HSE and be brought forward for further review.
