The first private hospital built in the State in 20 years was officially opened in Dublin today and will care for public patients regardless of their background or income, its operators have said.
The 183-bed Beacon Hospital, at Sandyford will provide acute care services, including heart surgery, neuro-surgery, and emergency medicine services.
Opening for patients next month, the nine-floor €183 million complex will also have an oncology day treatment centre along with therapeutic radiography services.
Prof J Mark Redmond, a director of the hospital, said half the available capacity will be for public patients.
"Beacon Hospital's world-class medical services and equipment, will be available to both public and private patients, regardless of background or income," he said.
Minister for Health Mary Harney unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the hospital, the first privately-funded hospital to be built in Dublin for more than two decades.
The hospital will house eight operating theatres - divided into dedicated rooms for neurosurgery, urology, cardiac, general, orthopaedic and ophthalmic surgery - two endoscopy suites and 14 critical care beds.
The critical care unit has 14 beds with individual glass-fronted cubicles, designed for privacy and to minimise the risk of infection.
Through a joint programme with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre (UPMC) in the US, the hospital said it plans to deliver the best cancer treatment available.
Some 450 people will be employed at the hospital when it is fully operational. Treatments begin next month with additional services opening early next year.
PA