Athy Hospital for elderly gets 50 new beds

A Co Kildare long term residential service for the elderly has been granted 50 additional new beds.

This major health investment will see the provision of a new 50 bed Unit,  at St Vincent's Hospital, built alongside the existing hospital where once the new facility is opened , 66 existing beds will be maintained . This will ensure that all 116 beds in St Vincent's will remain open and available to those most in need of them.

Kildare South Labour Deputy Jack Wall said: “This is very welcome news and will provide St.Vincents Hospital with the modern facilities of a new 50 bed Unit that marks a 21st century health care system.  The major upgrade will see approximately €9.3 million  invested to build the new unit.The new unit will be completed by 2021, with the building work planned to run alongside one of the only existing HIQA compliant Public Community bed facilities in the country."