Large crowds attended two preview days at the new HSE Ballyshannon Community Hospital recently, ahead of its opening later this year. The €36.7 million facility is located at the site of the former Sheil Hospital in the town.

Tours of the facility were provided for hundreds of people, allowing them to view some of the unique features of the hospital including its wildflower rooftop gardens, a collection of books spanning three centuries including some belonging to the late Dr Simon Sheil, and a new coffee dock for patients and visitors.

The tour also allowed attendees to view the Dementia Unit, Short Stay Unit, Long Stay Unit, Day Hospital and Sensory Garden. Ballyshannon Community Hospital features 52 long stay beds, with 20 short stay beds providing convalescence, rehabilitation, respite and palliative care. There are also 8 dementia specific assessment beds and a day hospital service.

Primary care services, linked to the hospital, will provide a full range of supporting professional services for older persons in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo area. These will include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics and podiatry.

The new facility will also allow feature services including a Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, dentistry, audiology, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dementia, psychiatry of old age and social work, advocacy and spiritual services. Residents and patients will also avail of hairdressing services, a shop, dry cleaning and taxi and transport services.

According to HSE Head of Service, Older Persons Services, Frank Morrison, all involved were “delighted to show the public the new hospital, which we are very proud of. It gave people the chance to see what will be on offer when the hospital opens later in the year. Owing to the large numbers and huge interest, we are currently looking into the possibility of holding more tours ahead of the hospital’s opening.”