Private hospital set to expand in Limerick

THE ONLY private hospital operating in Limerick city is set to expand by employing an additional 20 per cent of staff over the next three years.

Barringtons Hospital yesterday confirmed the jobs increase through additional beds and the opening up of a new theatre.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed the expansion when commenting on new figures which showed that pre-tax profits at the hospital dropped by 25 per cent from €148,434 to €110,382 last year.

“It was a good year, with more patients treated, more consultants working here and cost-containment measures put in place,” she said.

The spokeswoman confirmed that the cost-containment measures included a cut in salaries across the board, with management leading the way.

“A lot of credit is due to the staff here for the hospital performing well. It is something we are very proud of while also maintaining the high standards we have here.”

Barringtons Hospital Ltd opened the hospital in 1994 six years after Government cutbacks forced its closure as a public facility.

The hospital’s latest returns to the Companies Office show that its gross profit increased last year from €5.9 million to €6.2 million.

The hospital employed 81 people at the end of last year – an increase of four on 2009 – with its staff costs totalling €2.59 million.

The returns show that the hospital’s operating profit last year increased marginally from €319,098 to €325,721.

However, increased bank loan interest payments and similar charges rising from €172,534 to €202,536 resulted in a decrease in the company’s pre-tax profits from €148,434 to €110,382.

According to the returns, the profit secured last year has cleared the deficit of €28,265 to give accumulated profits of €82,117 at the end of October last year.