Minister of State for Mental Health and Older Persons officially opens Ballyshannon Community Hospital

The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older Persons, Mary Butler, T.D., officially opens the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital.

The €36.7 million facility is located at the site of the old Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. 

Ballyshannon Community Hospital features 52 long-stay beds, 20 short-stay beds providing convalescence, rehabilitation, respite, and palliative care, 8 dementia-specific assessment beds, and a Day Hospital Service.

The new community hospital will provide in-house occupational and physiotherapy services to patients and residents who require them. 

Additional supporting professional services will also be delivered via Primary Care services, including Speech and Language Therapist, Dietician, Podiatrist, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, Dentistry, Audiology, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dementia, Psychiatry of old age, social worker, Advocacy, and Spiritual services.

Residents and patients will have access to a hairdressing facility, Newspapers/ Magazines/ Shopping requirements, Dry cleaning, and Taxis/transport.

The new community hospital also features wildflower rooftop gardens, a collection of books spanning three centuries, including some belonging to the late Dr. Simon Sheil, and a new coffee dock for patients and visitors.

Minister for Mental Health and Older Persons Mary Butler, T.D. said: "This is a wonderful facility for the provision of older persons services in this community. It offers the most modern care in a homely and warm atmosphere. I am delighted to officially open the Ballyshannon Community Hospital, which will serve this area for generations to come."

The new facility's first phase of opening took place on February 20, with the 26 residents in the community Nursing Unit based at the Rock transferring to this new facility. This allows care to be given in the most appropriate modern health care environment, which will benefit the person's needs and promote a high quality of life. 

The second phase will see the opening of the 20-bed short-term unit. This unit will facilitate discharges from both Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital for patients who require further inpatient care in a step-down facility. 

During this phase, a further long-term care ward will also open, depending on the level of recruitment completed. Phase two is expected to be completed in July 2024.

Finally, the third opening phase will include the remaining long-term ward (13 beds) and the dementia unit. It is anticipated that all units will be operational by December 2024. Approximately 147 staff will be employed at the new community hospital

Head of Service Older Persons Services Frank Morrison said "The comfort and care of our residents is our main priority. It is a momentous day to see the hard work and efforts of so many over the years, coming to fruition with the official opening of the hospital."