The manager of Letterkenny General Hospital, Sean Murphy, has said the opening of the new medical wing will bring healthcare in Co Donegal into the modern age.
Mr Murphy was speaking as he gave an insight into the €24 million state-of-the-art facility which will partly begin operations tomorrow.
More than three and a half years since construction first started on the facility, a new era in medical care in Co Donegal is now upon us.
Donegal Daily and other media outlets were given a private tour of the facilities today.
The unit, which includes a €300,000 digital radiography camera, fourteen accident and emergency treatment units and a large waiting area, promises to make a huge difference to treatment facilities at the unit.
Above the general accident and emergency unit is thre floors of wards offering the most modern of treatment facilities.
Windowed nursing stations are adjacent to the general wards with a full view of patients.
Mr Murphy said “It will make a major difference in care for our patients.
“A lot of thought has gone into facilities and how best we can utilize staff and that is reflected in the planning,” he said.
A simple example of this is how patients will now be able to call and communicate with nursing staff through a new intercom system.
This means that nurses will not have to make a number of trips to and from wards to take care of patients needs.
A full security room using CCTV footage and other surveillance cameras will also be in operation.
Staff were today busily putting the final touches to the facility which is flooded with natural light.
Building manager Michael Martin said a huge amount of thought has gone into providing the best possible treatment experience for the patient.
“This is the biggest project of its kind along the West coast and thankfully it is coming towards its opening date.
“We are pleased with how things have gone and it will take a few weeks for things to settle down.
“But we are confident that these new facilities will offer the patient a very satisfactory treatment experience while they are with us,” he said.
The phased move of the Emergency Department (ED), Medical Wards and the Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) to the new purpose-built Medical Block facility will get underway next Thursday, 13th September.
This new facility will offer the most modern of accommodation, using the latest technologies to assist in the delivery of care to patients in an attractive and well designed environment.
The €24million Medical Block is located to the rear of the hospital and can be accessed internally via a link corridor near the Radiology Department. Access for Emergency Department and AMAU patients is via the new road entrance which is signed on the Kilmacrennan Road.
When relocated, the existing Medical Wards will be renamed to suit their level in the new building. The Emergency Department will be located on Level 1, Medical 1 will be located on Level 3, Medical 2 will be located on Level 4 and Medical 3 will be located on Level 2.
The new facility has been designed with the needs of patients in mind. Each ward is 24-bedded, with 16 of those 24 beds being single en suite rooms. This means that there is a total of 48 single en suite rooms in the new facility, which helps staff care for patients within a therapeutic environment that offers better privacy, protects patients’ dignity and assists with the control of infection.
Four of the single rooms on each level are tailor-made to be used as isolation rooms, and are designed to the latest international standards
The ED offers a modern patient-focused environment for patients who require emergency care. The AMAU is an 11-bedded facility adjacent to the Emergency Department.
This is a dedicated assessment area for patients presenting with medical conditions.
The new facility will be smoke free, and smoking will not be permitted anywhere within the perimeter of the hospital campus.
Patients will still have to use canteen facilities in the current hospital which is linked by a corridor to the new unit.
A total of 92 car parking spaces will also service the new medical wing.
Tags:
