New €10m facility to replace County Infirmary
A new €10 million health facility with 50 residential beds along with palliative care facilities and respite care beds is to be built in Navan to replace the old County Infirmary at the Fair Green, it was announced this week. Work on the new unit, to be built at the site of Our Lady"s Hospital, is expected to start early in the New Year and it is hoped it will be completed by this time next year. Navan Fianna Fail councillor Christy Reilly welcomed the news as 'a clear sign that something is being done on the capital side of the HSE - it"s a good news story for a change'. The infirmary at Fair Green houses residents on the ground floor, mainly for respite care. The second storey is used to some extent by the Tain mental health services but the HSE believes the building, which is very old, is in bad condition. Cllr Reilly said that 'clear skies' can be seen through the roof from the second floor. 'The staff there are hardworking and dedicated people who work in difficult conditions without complaint. And the people who use the infirmary like it because it is so central. However, the building has passed its sell-by date and badly needs replacement. I, for one, am glad that this investment is being made, and it is a very considerable investment,' said Cllr Reilly. The infirmary caters for people from all over the county and is often used to take pressure off St Joseph"s Hospital in Trim. Minister for Transport and Meath TD Noel Dempsey said in a statement that contracts had been signed for the new building, which would be constructed by Michael McNamara & Company. He said the unit would be of major benefit to the county for health services, particularly for the elderly. 'Its location in Navan will also facilitate both elderly and psychiatric clients. The services presently being delivered from the County Infirmary in Navan, such as psychiatric day care services and respite elderly services will be automatically transferred to this unit when completed,' the minister added. Mr Dempsey said that the new €10 million unit would comprise 50 residential beds catering for the following needs - 17 respite care beds with the remaining 33 beds facilitating rehabilitation, assessment and review and long-term care with access to palliative care services. The unit will also extend a range of day services to both psychiatric and elderly clients, ranging from medical, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy to speech language therapy, social work services and diversional therapies.