Press Release Body = A privately-owned city centre hospital is set to almost double its patient capacity after planning permission was granted for a multi-million Euro development.
Denis Cahalane, General Manager of Barrington\'s Hospital, George\'s Quay, said the developers, who have purchased an adjoining building, hope to have the €25m facility completed by the end of 2007 at the latest.
Approximately 17,500 square feet alongside the hospital has been acquired as part of the development and plans are well underway to complete the construction of the new health facility in record time.
\"This will allow for six new theatres and 70 beds in the hospital. At the moment, there are 40 beds in the hospital,\" said Mr Cahalane.
Medical personnel at Barrington\'s Hospital treated 5,000 patients last year.
\"All the funds for the development have been privately raised and planning permission has been granted. Because of this development, we will nearly be doubling our bed capacity in the hospital. We hope to have the new facility completed by the latter half of 2007,\" commented Mr Cahalane.
Barrington\'s Hospital has operated as a private hospital for ten years. It is owned by Limerick consultant Paul O\'Byrne and currently functions as a national referral hospital with the NTPF. It is the first stand-alone ambulatory day care centre in the country.
The health care facility has four fully operational theatres, an endoscopy suite and ten consultants\' suites. Mr Cahalane said the new hospital would facilitate a CT scanner, a Cath Lab, and six clean air theatres.
\"It will also allow for higher-end technology and more invasive procedures,\" said Mr Cahalane.
Last year, Paul O\'Byrne bought a 23-acre site at Upper Court, Freshford, Co Kilkenny and renovated a church on the site, now called the Freshford Clinic, to create 10 consultants\' suites. http://www.limerickbiz.com