Redevelopment of Mayo district hospital is in the pipeline

A project brief is to be prepared that will set out the redevelopment of Belmulet District Hospital, Minister for State Dara Calleary has confirmed.

Minister Calleary received the news from the Office of the Chief Officer, Community Healthcare West, in response to representation made on the matter.

The Ballina-based representative outlined: “The redevelopment will take place over two discrete phases.

“Phase one will entail the construction of a modular build that will be attached to the existing Aras Dearbhalla CNU.

"This will include the provision of 8 to 12 beds, subject to site capacity, to enable the moving of the current district hospital short stay beds.

"There are existing unused beds in Aras Dearbhla that will ensure that there will be no reduction in current provision of short stay facilities.

“Phase two of the project will include the demolition of the existing district hospital building to facilitate the construction of a new 50 bed unit to cater for the provision of the short stay and long stay beds in the one building.

"I understand that a project proposal will be developed in the coming weeks for consideration by senior management.

“This project has my full support and that of my colleague local Mayo County Councillor Séan Carey and we will continue to work with the HSE, the Department of Health and the management and staff of Belmullet District Hospital to see this through to fruition," he added.