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McGrath welcomes approval for Phase 2B of Mullingar Hospital
Deputy Paul McGrath welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Health that the architectural design for Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital can now proceed.
"I welcome this long awaited and expected announcement concerning Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital," says Deputy Paul McGrath.
"This extension will provide almost 100 much needed additional beds in this hospital as well as providing additional Pathology, Theatres, Medical, Surgical, Administration, 36-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Occupational Therapy, ICU/CCU, etc. services.
"These additional services will relieve the gross overcrowding that has occurred in Mullingar Hospital and I acknowledge the tremendous service given by staff at Mullingar Hospital who oftentimes are working in very difficult situations," says Deputy McGrath.
"This welcome announcement will now set in train the various stages which will bring the additional services on stream at Mullingar.
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Architectural Planning - Architects must now be appointed to design the new services to be provided at this hospital. This position must be advertised in the European Journals and I expect it will take at least 6 months to appoint the successful applicants.
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Approval of Design - The preparation of detailed designs for this massive project could take up to 12 months.
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Planning Approval - An application to Westmeath County Council must be lodged and this could be approved in about 3 months from date of lodgement.
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When Planning Approval is received, detailed tender documents must then be prepared and tenders sought - again through the European Journals. This process could take in excess of 6 months.
- The successful contractors move onto site and commence works which will cost approximately £45 million. These works would take in excess of 12 months.
"Therefore, with all stages running smoothly and without time delays, I would expect that the additional beds at Mullingar Hospital will come on stream before January 2005," concluded Paul McGrath.
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