Three new hospitals to treat waiting list patients only are to be built in Dublin Cork and Galway under the Government’s €3.69bn Sláintecare plan.
Department of Health said today it is looking for submissions from owners of sites suitable for the construction of elective hospitals in the three cities.The plan launched today is part of the implementation of Slaintecare, the blueprint for the future of the health service which had cross-party agreement under the last Government.
It will cover 2021 to 2023.Over the next three years, Sláintecare aims to; Implement a multi annual plan to reduce waiting lists in hospital and the community; Begin construction on new elective hospitals in Cork, Dublin and Galway; Roll-out the Sláintecare Consultant Contract, permitting public-only work in public hospitals and hire 7,000 new community-based healthcare staff.
It also aims to; Deliver 31 new Primary Care Centres, creating a total of 173 around the country; Invest in 32 Community Specialist Hubs for older people and people living with chronic disease and; Provide additional health resources in 18 communities of most disadvantage across Ireland to address health inequalities, among other aims listed on their plan.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said: “I am delighted that Government has approved the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy & Action Plan 2021-2023 today.This represents the next stage in an exciting and ambitious programme for reform of the health system. I believe Sláintecare is delivering much-needed health reform, and that now is the time to accelerate this”