Fast-tracked second 96-bed block at UHL not expected to open for four years

A SECOND 96-bed block at UHL which has been accelerated is not expected to be complete until 2027, the CEO of UL Hospitals Group has confirmed.

In total, there are three planned 96-bed blocks planned at UHL, the first is expected to be completed in 2025, the second, 2027 and the third won’t be delivered until the 2030s.

The construction of the second 2027 block has been moved forward due to a change order and it was confirmed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that works on the plans has been accelerated to deliver extra bed capacity at the university hospital.

BREAKING: Construction of new 96 bed-block at University Hospital Limerick fast-tracked

“With everything moving in the right direction… It will be ready in 2027. If we hadn’t got the change order it would be years after that before we get it moving on. So it’s very positive for us even though it’s a long way out,” CEO of ULHG Colette Cowan said on Live 95.

Ms Cowan said the three-bed blocks are “required for the region” to alleviate the current pressures.

“The information is there, all of the reports all say the same thing including our recent Deloitte report showed us we need 302 beds in the Mid-West in UHL,” Ms Cowan said.

The third 96-bed block is part of the UHL Masterplan and is being worked on for the future.

Ms Cowan believes the hospital will be caught up a lot on the demands in the Mid-West with the three-bed blocks but more is needed to be done.

“We had the census out (this week). We’ve seen the figures of the ageing population in Limerick. Even this morning, I can see the numbers rising in the last month in the ED with [patients over 75]. I’ve always said it’s great that people are living longer but we have to prepare for that,” Ms Cowan mentioned.