23 October 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie
West Cork Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jim Daly has confirmed that significant renovation works are being carried out at the hospital following the success of the opening of 14 Transitional Care Beds in Clonakilty last winter. Minister Daly paid tribute to the new Director of Nursing at the hospital and outlined a series of ambitious developments to happen at the 122 bed facility in Clonakilty.
Jim Daly TD (Fine Gael) is a Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People
Minister Daly said he is delighted with the recent appointment of Mary Nolan as Director of Nursing at the Hospital, saying that Ms. Nolan has a proven track record in driving change and modernizing health services delivered in the local community.
Jim Daly said “It is a lucky break to get a Director of Nursing of this calibre, Mary and I share a similar vision of how we can transform the fantastic facility that is Clonakilty Community Hospital, and importantly she has a strong desire to bring back the “community” element to the development and running of the hospital.”
“Most recently we have secured funding to renovate the old Sonas ward to accommodate the 14 new transitional care beds that we set up as a pilot last year. This service will now become permanent which is great news. The pilot has proved a great success and in consultation with my colleague Simon Harris, the Minister for Health, we are now looking to roll this model of service out nationally,” stated Minister Daly.
The only Cork South West government TD continued saying he is in the final stages of setting up a new “Friends of Clonakilty Hospital” group, and this committee will play an important role in providing input from the community and also in the running of fundraising drives, both of which have been absent from the hospital for some years.
Concluding Minister Daly also confirmed that planning and design is in the final stages for a multi-million euro state of the art upgrade to the hospital wards, and government funds are secured for this. “I am really thrilled with the positive results we have achieved in recent times and the fresh enthusiastic approach that is being taken by the new management. A new era and brighter days are ahead for staff, management and most importantly patients of this treasured facility in the heart of Clonakilty town.”
