New OPD will be ‘massive for hospital’

Construction on Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar’s new €11m outpatients department (OPD) is set to start next month.

The hospital was recently given the green light by the HSE to proceed with the new purpose-built facility, which was granted planning permission in August.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, hospital manager Kay Slevin said that when the new facility, which will be located opposite the front entrance to the main building, is operational in mid-2024, it will be a “ major step forward in terms of our capacity within the hospital and our facilities”.

“It’s great news for the hospital. When we have this new Outpatients building in place, all of the outpatient services will move across into that building.

“In fact people who are coming to the hospital for an outpatients appointment only will be attending that building and won’t be required to come into the main hospital building.

“Because it is a purpose built building designed for outpatient services, we would hope that it will improve the whole flow in outpatients and in terms of the capacity.”

During the pandemic, the waiting area for ED patients was moved to the main concourse of the hospital in order to accommodate a Respiratory ED. When the new OPD is open, the ED waiting area will be moved to a part of the vacated space, while the rest will be used to house the hospital’s Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU), which will include a Medical Assessment Unit, a Surgical Assessment Unit and a Gynaecology Assessment Unit.

Ms Slevin says that an expanded AMAU will benefit the wider hospital in a number of ways.

“It’s a fantastic service but at the moment it is operating in a space at the end of a ward area. They are very limited with space. The throughput from AMAU impacts all our flow in the hospital and our trolleys as well.”

Following on from the successful opening of the hospital’s off-campus Minor Injuries Unit at Charter Medical Private Hospital in Ballinderry, Ms Slevin says getting the go-ahead for the new OPD is a huge vote of confidence in the hospital and the staff.

“The MIU numbers are increasing gradually, equally the MIU supports the whole function of our ED as it means there are fewer people coming in that don’t need to come in.

“We are really looking forward to the construction of the new OPD, both from a patient perspective and from a staff perspective. It is a positive development for the hospital.

“We have had great support from the minister for health on this and our colleagues Minister Peter Burke and Deputy Troy, who have been advocating and working with us.

“I would also like to acknowledge and thank our staff and IEGH who have contributed to this project. I would especially like to thank our local Estates team, who have done significant work both at a local and national level securing this building for the people of Mullingar. It will have major benefits for patients in the long run.”

“We have a builder ready to start and the diggers should be on site in March. It’s massive for the hospital.”