Maternity Hospital: Construction of the new Cork €75 million University Maternity Hospital is advancing on schedule, with an estimated completion date of early 2006, it was announced yesterday.
CUMH will help meet the increasing demands made each year on Southern Health Board (SHB) maternity services.
In 2003, more than 5,200 babies were born in Erinville and St Finbarr's maternity hospitals.
The Minister for Health, Mr Martin, was among the attendance at the putting in place of the final brick at a "topping out" ceremony for the facility which will see the amalgamation of maternity services in Cork city.
According to the SHB the new hospital is Ireland's only purpose-built maternity facility.
Built on six storeys, it will include a total of 150 obstetric in-patient beds. It will also have beds for women suffering pregnancy loss; 50 neo-natal cots, three operating theatres, 12 birthing suites.
Its out-patients department includes ultrasound, "parentcraft" and foetal assessment facilities, medical and midwifery educational facilities and a large basement car park.
The development of an integrated maternity service has been a key priority for the SHB. This new maternity hospital will ensure the development of a modern centre of excellence. said Prof John Higgins, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology. "CUMH will provide women in this region with the highest quality of care in a state of the art environment. It is a great challenge and opportunity for staff to be involved in developing this service."