Building contract awarded for new €10m. Hospice unit in Castlebar
HISTORY has been made today as the CEO of Mayo Roscommon Hospice, Martina Jennings, announced that contracts have been awarded in respect of the building of the foundation’s 14-bed Specialist Palliative Care Unit at Knockaphunta in Castlebar.
The cost of the build, which is approximately €10 million, will be funded solely by Mayo Roscommon Hospice and will be the largest healthcare facility to be built from fundraised revenue west of the Shannon and possibly the first of its kind in the whole of Ireland.
MVS Construction Castlebar has been awarded the main contract with the mechanical contract awarded to Walsh Mechanical, Ballinrobe, and Moran Electrical, Westport, has secured the electrical contract.
“MVS Construction Ltd. is delighted to be appointed as main contractor on such a prestigious local project. We are looking forward to working with Martina, Joanne and hospice staff, along with the project design team in delivering this specialist palliative care unit for the people of Mayo,” said Des Murphy, Contracts Manager, MVS.
Work onsite has commenced this week and is expected to be a 15-month project, providing employment in Mayo of up to 200 people. The palliative care unit will be a major employer in the area when it opens in spring of 2019.
“We are thrilled that after a long and fair tender process, the contracts have been awarded to three companies from Mayo,” said Martina Jennings, CEO Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
“It is an incredible achievement by the communities of Mayo and Roscommon who have been tirelessly fundraising for our service over the last 25 years and it is just fantastic to see the work of so many people finally coming to fruition.
“We will be starting our Roscommon eight-bed specialist palliative care unit as soon as our Mayo unit is complete, so our need for public support and donations across the two counties is greater than ever before” explained Martina.
The intention is that the Hospice will be a sanctuary where patients can complete their journey through end of life in an environment of dignity and love. Bedroom suites have been carefully designed in consultation with the palliative homecare team and in partnership with the Galway Hospice and the HSE.
These rooms will provide a private haven for patients and their families. Each room has direct access to a private patio and garden which leads to a communal therapeutic area. While a family member can stay in the room with their loved one, a purpose-built visitor’s accommodation is also provided.
Aside from these state of the art units, Mayo Roscommon Hospice will continue to fund the palliative care service within the local community and need to raise over €2million per year to provide this invaluable service, as well as funding the capital development programme.
“This build is the culmination of many years of hard work by both past and present board members, staff, support groups, and volunteers. Our mission has always been to provide dignity and respect to patients and families at end of life,” said Joanne Hynes, chairperson Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
“Our wonderful palliative care teams have provided this service to over 14,000 patients in the last 25 years. It is fitting that as we enter our silver anniversary year, we begin a new era in Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation. The dream is finally becoming a reality with the build of our much needed Hospice.”
* If you would like to support the Hospice's fundraising efforts and be part of bringing these projects to completion, please contact Mayo Roscommon Hospice Headquarters on (094) 9388666.
PHOTOGRAPH CAPTION: Pictured at the building contracts signing were, at front, Joanne Hynes, chairperson, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, James McTigue, MVS Construction, and Ann McGarry, accounts, Mayo Roscommon Hospice. At back are John O'Neill, O'Neill O'Malley Architects, Martina Jennings, CEO, Mayo Roscommon Hospice, and Des Murphy, contract manager, MVS Construction.