New ICU wing now open
A NEW Intensive Care Wing was officially opened in Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) by Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, last week, adding 12 new single-room ICU beds to the hospital.
The additional beds will provide care to the most critically ill patients and are located across two zones, each with their own central nursing station.
The additional beds will be supported by 146 whole-time equivalent staff made up of nursing, consultant intensivists, registrars and health and social care professionals.
The recruitment for medical staff is completed, according to a TUH spokeswoman, while the recruitment of the additional health and social care professionals is in its final stages.
Nursing recruitment is ongoing, with 50 posts filled and the remaining staff being in place by January/February next year.
Shauna Delaney, ICU Clinical Facilitator, Prof Peter Lavin, Consultant Nephrologist Lead Clinical Director, TUH, Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly TD
Speaking at the official opening, Lucy Nugent, chief executive of TUH, said: “The opening of our new ICU extension is part of the hospital’s strategy to improve infrastructure with the priority of improving access for our most vulnerable patients and preparing the hospital for the increasing demands of serving a rapidly growing population.
“Patients requiring ICU care will now receive it in the appropriate and superior location, ensuring the alternative areas previously used for ICU patients can be used for their proper – i.e. post-anaesthetic care – unit which facilitates complex post-operative patients.”
Commenting on the opening of the new wing, Minister Donnelly said: “It is with great pleasure that I officially open the new ICU wing, seeing first-hand the most modern ICU facilities in the country, supported by the HSE and my Department as part of the Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Government in 2020.
“It is facilities like this that have enabled us to expand nationally to over 300 critical-care beds, up from 255 at the start of 2020.
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the project ensuring it has opened both on schedule and on budget.”
The existing ICU in TUH, which is 24 years old, will be refurbished between September and December this year, and the additional bed capacity will increase steadily from 12 to 21 beds from January next year onwards upon completion of the refurbishment programme.
