Tallaght Hospital seeks to develop new renal dialysis unit

By Laura Lyne

TALLAGHT Hospital looks set to develop a new renal dialysis unit to replace its existing unit, after submitting a planning application for the development with South Dublin County Council.

It was submitted on May 27, and is for the construction of a two-storey extension on the roof of the existing emergency department of the hospital.

The new unit will have new patient accommodation, including a new renal dialysis unit that incorporates treatment areas, support rooms and offices.

It will also include two new stairs and lift blocks, with associated site works incorporating plant rooms, a taxi set-down area, car parking and landscaping works.

Within the renal dialysis unit will be 28 maintenance haemodialysis service stations, five acute/isolation units for inpatient haemodialysis and four self-care haemodialysis units.

Also included within the unit will be home therapies and a plasmapherisis service.

Architects Pascal+Watson submitted a design report for the development, which said: “For many patients, the renal unit will be like a second home – a place where they spend almost half their week, every week, and will do for the rest of their lives unless they are among the lucky few who receive a transplant.

“Therefore, the design of the dialysis unit impacts greatly on the quality of life for this group of patients.

“The renal units and its patients is very much a community – that is what the unit needs to foster.

“This includes thinking about what might have an impact on patients as they are undergoing, or waiting for treatment.”

A decision on the application is due by July 21, with third-party submissions on the application due by June 30.