Construction work has started on a new €80 million cardiac and renal unit at Cork University Hospital (CUH)which will more than double the number of beds available for kidney patients at the hospital.
The unit will include 141 inpatient beds, 35 renal dialysis places and 10 catheter laboratory recovery places and will provide treatment, diagnostic and rehabilitation facilities for patients from Cork and farther afield.
The 13,000sq m building, which will be spread over six storeys and located on a site adjoining the western end of the existing CUH building, will also provide treatment, diagnosis and rehabilitation for cardiac patients.
CUH group general manager Tony McNamara said the work by Pierce Construction, which commenced earlier this month, will take approximately two and a half years but will be a valuable addition to services at the hospital.
"This cardiac/renal unit will provide for the ever expanding need for these services in the region. It was planned in co-operation with patient interest groups and will result in greatly enhanced care for all cardiac and renal patients who receive treatment in CUH.
"The new project is part of the ongoing capital development programme at CUH and we are delighted to see work commence on this significant new facility," said Mr McNamara, adding that the new unit will cater for an increase in the number and age of renal disease patients.
Mr McNamara explained that the number of patients requiring renal replacement therapies for renal disease has been increasing since the 1980s, with the patient profile also changing to now include more elderly patients and patients with other ailments such as diabetes.
There are currently 150 patients on haemodialysis at CUH and the new unit will see an increase in the number of dialysis stations from 25 and one isolation room to 35 dialysis stations and five isolation rooms, while inpatient beds will increase from 15 to 30, he said.
Secretary of the Cork branch of the Irish Kidney Association Michael Costello warmly welcomed the news that construction work had started on the project and pointed out that approval for the project had been granted as far back as October 2001.
"The existing unit is under constant pressure - it's on the go 24 hours a day which means people have to attend there at all hours. This new unit is going to have 35 renal dialysis units, so it should help ease the pressure for everyone - both patients and staff - it's very welcome."
