From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Galway City Council has voted to support the development of an elective hospital under its new development plan, and has stated its preference that the facility should be located in Merlin Park.

The Government’s Sláintecare strategy commits to building a new elective hospital in Galway, with construction due to start by the end of next year. It is expected to be developed in Merlin Park, where planning has just been granted for a new outpatients department.

However, councillors were determined to prevent any possibility of the elective facility being built on the grounds of University Hospital Galway at a meeting to discuss the new Galway City Development Plan 2023-29 last week.

“UHG is up in a heap and there’s no room for a mousetrap back there, don’t mind an elective hospital,” said Councillor Michael Crowe (FF), who sought to specify that the new facility would be developed in Merlin Park in the plan.

In a submission relating to the City Development Plan, the Health Service Executive (HSE) set out its “two-site strategy” for UHG to continue providing trauma care, while Merlin Park would provide ambulatory and elective care.

However, the recommendation of Galway City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath referred only to the development of an elective hospital without specifying its intended location.

Cllr Donal Lyons (Ind) suggested explicitly excluding the UHG site in the wording of the entry, but it was ultimately agreed that the statement supporting the development of a new elective hospital would include the words “with a preferred location at Merlin Park”.

This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read more on the plans for Merlin Park and a new access roadway, see the July 22 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.