Accommodation: Families of patients in Cork hospitals who travel long distances to visit their relatives will soon be able to avail of free accommodation in the first centre of its kind in the State.
Work has started on a 5.2 million "home from home" facility aimed at reducing the stress and costs faced by families who travel from all over the Munster region to visit relatives attending hospitals in Cork city.
Brú Columbanus House is being built by the Knights of St Columbanus on a site donated by Cork City Council and the Southern Health Board in Wilton in Cork city.
The house will be open to families regardless of economic, social, cultural or religious status and it will rely totally on donations and fundraising activities to cover running costs. It is expected to open before the end of the year.
A member of the Knights of St Columbanus, Mr Jim Leahy said the centre would enable families to be close to their loved ones and have access to facilities where they can sleep, cook and rest.
"The centre will provide a caring, comfortable and welcoming environment for family members during this distressing time," he said.
Mr Leahy said that finding accommodation close to the main hospitals could be difficult and expensive.
Referrals to the house can be made by all of Cork's main hospitals including Cork University Hospital, Mercy University, South Infirmary Victoria, Bons Secours, St Finbarr's, the Erinville Maternity and St Mary's Orthopaedic. Patients attending these hospitals come from as far away as Waterford, Tipperary and Clare.
The general manager of the Cork University Hospital (CUH) Group, Mr Tony McNamara, said the house's location so close to CUH was to be welcomed as the hospital had the Republic's only "level one" trauma centre and people were referred there from all over the State.
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the house can do so to AIB, Bishopstown, Cork - account number: 04320083.