Over €200 million is set to be spent on capital development at Cork University Hospital (CUH) over the next five years according to a report published by the Southern Health Board yesterday.
A new radiotherapy unit was completed last year while construction on a €75 million maternity unit which will facilitate 7,000 births annually will commence at CUH later this month.
The new 150 bed unit is intended to replace services currently being provided at St Finbarr's Hospital and the Erinville hospital in the city. The maternity unit, to be completed within three years, will also have a 50 cot specialty area for sick babies.
A €65 million cardiac and renal analysis unit is at the design stage while a day procedures unit is also expected to be fully operational in the hospital within five years.
Tenders are also in for the construction of a €15 million A&E department which will include treatment cubicles, a resuscitation room and X- ray facilities.
Spending at CUH was up 23.5 per cent last year from €99.539 million in 2000 to €122.949 million in 2001.
During 2001 there were approximately 27,000 day care cases and 119,000 out patients visits making CUH one of the busiest hospitals in the country. General manager of the CUH group, Tony McNamara said yesterday that hospitals in Cork provide an outstanding service to patients in the region.
"We have in place comprehensive plans for the further development of services. Our professional and dedicated staff are our most valuable asset and they have made this tremendous progress possible."