Proposals for a new Emergency Department (ED) and Women and Children’s Block at University Hospital Galway (UHG) will go before the HSE Board for approval within weeks, the Minister for Health has confirmed.

Speaking at the opening of a new Radiation Oncology Centre at UHG, Minister Stephen Donnelly said progress was being made on the plans which he said would significantly enhance emergency care in Galway.

“We’re moving forward with the new Emergency Department and Women and Children’s Block, and that’s going to be a game-changer in terms of the emergency care that’s provided here.

“We all know that patients are having to wait too long. It’s not acceptable for patients; it’s not acceptable for their families; and it’s not acceptable for our healthcare workers who we’re asking to work in those conditions,” he continued.

“This new block will radically alter that and I’m very happy to say that that’s going to be going before the HSE Board for decision in the next few weeks.”

Pictured: Tony Canavan, CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group; Stephen Donnelly, Minister for Health TD and Chris Kane, General Manager, Galway University Hospitals, at the opening of the new radiation oncology unit. PHOTO: SEAN LYDON