Further delays for Merlin Park operating theatres

There are further delays in plans for new operating theatres at Merlin Park Hospital – nearly three years after existing theatres were shut down due to a leaking roof.

At the moment, there are more than 7,000 people on inpatient and outpatient waiting lists at Galway’s two public hospitals – people requiring the likes of hip and knee replacements, as well as spinal, ankle and shoulder surgeries at Merlin Park.

In August 2019, the HSE was granted planning permission for the construction of a building and link corridor to the main hospital building to replace the existing to theatres, which the HSE has described as “no longer fit for purpose”.

The plan included two orthopaedic theatre suites and supporting each theatre will be an anaesthetic room, pre and post-operative recovery rooms, staff changing, toilet facilities and storage.

Now, the HSE has sought revisions to the plans, which would involve increasing the size of the building by around one fifth.

“It is proposed to construct a new theatre building that replaces existing theatres which are no longer fit for purpose at Merlin Park. This development is an upgrade and consolidation of the existing theatre services on site with no discernible increase in staff, patient of vehicle movements,” the application reads.

The new plans include a building with a total area of 1,200 square metres – the ground floor has been increased by 111 sq m to allow for additional stores and an interview room and the first floor has increased by 50 sq m for an additional communications room and water storage room.

The height of the building has increased by 870mm in order to conceal some rooftop plant.

The HSE has stressed that while the initial plans referred to ‘modular’ building, it will be a permanent structure, which must last in excess of 20 years.

“The proposed building shall be a permanent structure and not temporary in nature. The use of the terms ‘modular’ or ‘prefabricated’ relate to elements of the building which may be constructed off site to facilitate the rapid delivery of this essential healthcare facility.

“An orthopaedic theatre by its very nature must be a substantial solid structure to meet the strict criteria for this clinical use, therefore a significant degree of permeance is required – in excess of 20+ years,” the application reads.

The HSE has clarified that the old theatre space will not be used for theatres, but may be used for other consultation rooms, stores etc.

At the start of September 2017, before the operating theatres were closed, a total of 6,281 people were waiting for inpatient or outpatient orthopaedic treatment in Galway.

One of the theatres subsequently reopened following refurbishment works.

At the end of June this year, a total of 7,022 people were on the two waiting lists.

Consultant surgeons at the hospital previously described the waiting list as “catastrophic” and warned that patients are clinically worsening as they wait to be admitted for surgery.