Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has today (Monday) welcomed confirmation from the HSE and Minister for Health Leo Varadkar that plans are progressing towards the construction of a new 100 bed unit at St. Vincents Hospital Athy complete with dementia specific beds and a day care facility.

“The new unit is included in the HSE Capital Plan and the HSE have confirmed that the design brief for the replacement 100 bed Community Nursing Unit is being finalised after which tenders will be invited for a design team.  It is estimated that the design process will take 18 months with a further 18 months required for construction

“Since his appointment in July 2014, I have had numerous discussions with Minister Varadkar to impress on him the need for significant investment in St. Vincents hospital in Athy to secure its long term future.”

“New HIQA guidelines mean that facilities such as St Vincents will need significant investment to comply with the standards. Confirmation from the HSE and the Minister that plans for this investment are progressing is great news for Athy. This will be an investment in the provision of health care for the aging population of South Kildare and will also secure an institution that is one of the largest employers in the town.

“St. Vincents has a long and proud tradition of providing health care to South Kildare residents and I am delighted that will continue and be enhanced through plans for new investment and development of the facilities at Athy.”

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Contact: Martin Heydon TD 087-6262546