The official opening of a Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) at Bon Secours Hospital in Cork marks an important step forward in providing a greater level of acute healthcare for patients across the Munster region.
That’s according to Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who was in Cork to mark the occasion as well as announce 75 new jobs and 200 in construction at the hospital as part of a €64m expansion. The MAU is the first phase in the development of the Hospital’s plans to expand emergency care for patients.
An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny unveiling a plaque to officially open the medical assessment unit
Picture: Denis Minihane.
The €1m MAU is an extension of emergency patient services for the population of the region.
Harry Canning, hospital manager, said: “The unit has been a great success in providing rapid access to emergency medical care for patients in Cork and the wider Munster region. We expect that the MAU will grow by 20% per annum over the coming years. In addition, existing services such as Cancer, Cardiology and Orthopaedics are growing strongly and will require additional capacity and infrastructure going forward. To support this growth, the Bon Secours Hospital Cork is investing €64m in a major expansion that will include development of radiotherapy to support cancer services, 80 private single rooms, additional operating theatres and intensive care facilities. The six-storey development will commence in 2016 and take approximately 2 years to complete.”
The opening of the MAU has helped to relieve the pressure on hospital Emergency Departments across Cork City and County.
The hospital employs 1,100 staff and has 75 consultants delivering consultant provided care across a broad range of clinical specialities.