A detailed breakdown of how the Health Service Executive (HSE) will spend its capital budget of some €555 million this year was released last night.
While much will be spent on well-heralded A&E improvements as well as the provision of extra beds at hospitals like Wexford General which have been waiting for them for years, there is also funding for new equipment and refurbishment across a range of hospitals.
In addition, funding has been allocated to allow proposals for acute medical assessment units at hospitals such as Sligo General Hospital and Tullamore General Hospital proceed.
A range of hospitals will also get new CT scanners. These include Mallow General Hospital, Roscommon County Hospital, the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick and Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. Mullingar General is getting €1 million for a new CT scanner which will replace one installed in 1997. And Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, which has been promised a new MRI scanner for some time, is getting €2 million for the equipment.
A number of hospitals are also getting funding to upgrade their kitchen facilities. These include Louth County Hospital in Dundalk and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
Some €50,000 has been allocated to Monaghan General Hospital for "a feasibility study" as well as €2.4 million for ongoing refurbishment of two wards.
Nearby Cavan General Hospital is getting €3.9 million to fit out a new ward which will have 21 extra beds. The hospital regularly has patients on trolleys due to pressure on beds. Funding has been provided too to progress plans for additional ward space for 42 beds at Letterkenny General Hospital.
Other projects at various stages of development for which funding has been allocated include the fitting out of a new medical ward with 23 beds at South Tipperary General Hospital; refurbishment of two wards and an intensive care unit at Cork University Hospital; a palliative care unit and new fire alarm system at Kerry General Hospital; new facilities for an infectious diseases clinic at University College Hospital Galway; the upgrading of a special care baby unit at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe; and the refurbishment of accommodation housing the obesity clinic at Loughlinstown Hospital.
There is also funding to progress Phase 2B of Mullingar General Hospital and for essential fire safety works at the Coombe Women's Hospital in Dublin, which will also get money for a 14-bed neonatal unit.
The A&E developments receiving funding are those at the Mercy Hospital in Cork, Ballinasloe, Kerry General, Waterford, Drogheda, Sligo, Letterkenny, Portlaoise and Nenagh.
Funding has also been allocated to improve ambulance services, primary care, local health centres and facilities caring for people with mental illness and intellectual disability in the community.
And €6.32 million has been set aside by the HSE for emergency planning.