THE PROVISION of a new €16 million 68-bed community hospital for Dingle will be a major asset in providing both continuing care and community support for older people in west Kerry, HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm said yesterday.
Prof Drumm said the hospital, when completed in 2009, would replace the 43-bed St Elizabeth's Hospital, thus providing an additional 25 beds as well as a day care centre for older people, a mental health day care centre and a new ambulance base for west Kerry.
"We all know that older people wish to remain in their own homes for as long as is possible and the HSE is continually enhancing services in the community to support their wish," said Prof Drumm at yesterday's topping out ceremony.
"However, if and when someone needs to avail of long-term residential care, their preferred wish and that of their family is that they can do so as close as possible to their own home, their family, friends and neighbours," he said.
HSE South local health manager Tom Leonard said the new hospital would consist of two modules for continuing care and one providing a range of community supports including convalescent care, respite care, hospice care and direct GP admissions.
"The hospital will provide an excellent environment for patients and staff and is a wonderful facility for people in the area to avail of for decades to come," he said, adding that it would employ 90 people compared with 40 who are currently employed in the existing hospital.
Annette Cremin, matron of Dingle Community Hospital, said the hospital, which was being built on land donated by the O'Connor family of Dingle, was being constructed on one level with the comfort of older people in mind.