Retention sought for Nenagh Hospital extension

The HSE is seeking planning permission to retain an extension built at Nenagh Hospital, which it says was developed as an emergency response during the Covid pandemic.

Over the course of the pandemic, the HSE developed a new single storey extension to the existing hospital building that houses new services for patients.

The HSE has now applied to Tipperary County Council for permission to retain the new extension, developed under planning regulations duringwhat it calls “the Covid emergency”.

The agency developed the extension to the front of the existing building.

It houses six new ophthalmology clinic rooms.

In addition to these, it contains four ophthalmology treatment rooms and associated support accommodation.

The works for which retention is sought include a new main entrance lobby to the front of the existing building.

Other facilities incorporated into the expansion included a new car park to the west of the hospital campus.

This provided 52 new car parking spaces.

A new car park was also developed to the east of the campus, creating 47 more additional parking spaces.

Other developments now before the council under consideration for retention include a new pedestrian and cycle path within the grounds of the hospital as well as a bicycle shelter.

Among other works the council will be considering for retention include alterations to the access road to the Community Nursing Unit, currently repurposed as a step down facility for patients overflowing from the overcrowded University Hospital in Limerick.

Included in the new developments was a new access ramp to the existing hospital.

Other developments being sought for retention are a new enclosure for tanks, a new service yard with an associated access road, public lighting and additional ancillary services.