Connacht Tribune
Merlin Park modular theatre plan hits stumbling block
Plans for a new modular theatre building on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital have hit a stumbling block, after Galway City Council raised concerns about the ecological impact the development would have on Merlin Woods.
The concerns come just three weeks after An Bord Pleanála overturned planning permission for the proposed Galway Hospice at Merlin.
Planners have also queried contradictions within the planning application for the modular theatres – the HSE stated the existing theatre suite will be decommissioned, but elsewhere state it is hoped the existing theatre can be utilised in the future.
Questions have also been raised about the lifespan of the pre-fabricated modular buildings.
At the end of last year, the HSE sought planning permission for a new modular theatre building on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital, to replace existing units which were shut down in September 2017 due to a leaking roof.
Plans were lodged with the Council for the construction of a new 613 square metre building and link corridor at the main hospital building to replace the existing to theatres, which the HSE has described as “no longer fit for purpose”.
According to the planning application, the development is an “upgrade and consolidation” of the existing theatre services, with no discernible increase in staff, patient or vehicle movements.
“The proposal is for a replacement theatre suite to the main hospital building following the decommissioning of an existing theatre suite. It represents a like for like replacement in terms of operating theatre capacity.
“Once the proposed new theatres are commissioned, the existing orthopaedic theatre will no longer be in use. It is hoped that at some point in the future, the existing theatre could be utilised to help decongest the University Hospital Galway site, however, at present, no funding or plans exist for this scenario.
“The theatres will be used for orthopaedic elective activity and infrastructure in Merlin Park and will comprise two orthopaedic theatre suites. Supporting each theatre will be an anaesthetic room, pre and post-operative recovery rooms, staff changing, toilet facilities and storage,” the application reads.
However, the City Council has now sought further information from the HSE.
“In general, there is a presumption against the use of temporary buildings for the purposes of providing healthcare facilities, or indeed educational or other community facilities, in the absence of a medium to long-term plan, as this type of accommodation is unsuitable to meet long term needs of these uses.
“The applicant is asked to comment on this matter and to outline details of the intended lifespan of the proposed building, in the context of any medium to long-term strategic plans for the hospital,” planners said.
Queries were also raised about the existing theatre suite and the long-term plans for it.
“Whilst it is acknowledged that the cover letter submitted states that the proposed pre-fabricated building is to be used as replacement theatre suite to the main hospital building, following decommissioning of an existing theatre suite, the cover letter also states that it is hoped the existing theatre could be utilised at some stage in the future to help decongest University Hospital Galway.
“Hence the proposal may give rise to an increase in staff, patient and vehicle movements in future, which is contrary to what is stated on file,” the Council said.
It was also pointed out that the building would be on a greenfield site in close proximity to Merlin Woods, and that despite the application stating “the impact on flora and fauna arising from this development is deemed to be negligible”, this was not quantified by an ecological assessment.
“It is considered that, at a minimum, an ecological screening assessment should be carried out, which addresses the potential impact of the proposed development on ecology, with particular regard to normal headline issues such as local biodiversity, flora and fauna,” planners said.
A landscaping plan for the development has also been requested.
The HSE now has six months to respond to the request for further information, or the application will be deemed to be withdrawn.
The latest figures show that the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery at Merlin has grown to 1,500 people since the theatres were closed.
A group of ten orthopaedic surgeons wrote to Health Minister Simon Harris last month confirming that 1,500 patients are waiting for complex joint replacements, spinal surgery, foot and ankle and shoulder surgery and that the waiting list continues to expand exponentially.
Minister Harris said a vendor has been selected to provide the modular units, but the timeframe for the delivery of them “will be established pending the outcome of the planning application”.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
