Cashel based Councillor Declan Burgess has revealed that the HSE is to give consideration to locating the planned 60 bed Community Nursing Unit at a site to the rear of the current Assessment unit at St Patrick’s Hospital. This site is thought to be 4 acres in size. The HSE revealed last month that it considers the original planned site at St Patrick’s to be too small and had begun a process of seeking an alternative site in the town. Cllr Burgess is of the view that HSE property at Palmer’s Hill is not a viable option. It is understood that the HSE is undertaking a feasibility study in respect of this location and that an update will be available in the coming days.
The project was due to be submitted for planning permission in 2019 at the St Patrick’s Hospital site. The project has been included in the HSE Capital Plan for 2023 meaning that funding will be provided if a suitable site and planning permission can be secured. A 62 bed Unit is currently under construction by the HSE in Nenagh at a cost of €22.33M and when operational (expected in March 2024) it will require 62 whole-time equivalent staffing positions to be filled.
