Hospital given go-ahead for new €6.5m OP unit

Planning permission has been granted for a new out-patients department (OPD) at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.

The successful planning application, lodged in February of this year by RKD Architects of Canada Street Waterford on behalf of the HSE, describes the building as measuring up at 1,742m2 over two storeys. The development includes a separate plant room to be located to the rear of the new OPD.

According to the application, the OPD will consist of medical consulting rooms, admin offices, storerooms, toilets, staff facilities and ancillary accommodation. The development is also set to include PV panels on the roof of the OPD.

The new department is to be built on a site facing the main entrance door of the hospital, with the site boundary covering a small portion of the carpark, and the area where the smoking hut is located. It will run behind the health centre (the old clinic).

Prior to commencement, the developer will have to pay the sum of €40,323 to Westmeath County Council as a development contribution.

A spokesperson for the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar expressed delight at the news that planning permission had been granted.

Hospital Manager, Kay Slevin said: “Planning permission being granted for our new outpatient building is another massively progressive step for the hospital, community and surrounding area.

“The staff and management in the hospital are so keen to continue to grow the services and improve facilities in Regional Hospital Mullingar. Ultimately this will benefit and help treat patients, which is our number one priority.”

Ms Slevin went on to thank HSE Estates and the Ireland East Hospital Group for their support in securing this planning permission.

Welcoming the news, Minister of State, Robert Troy TD noted that funding in the region of €6.5m has already been sanctioned for the project.

That approval was granted in March of 2021, and the Health Capital Plan for 2021 stated that a respiratory Assessment (RAU) is to be included in the OPD.

“It’s great to see that planning has been granted. I am aware that the hospital will soon be in a position to award a contract and construction can commence. This will be a purpose built, state of the art outpatient facility, which will benefit the patients who use it and staff who work there.”