Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., officially turns the sod on new Letterkenny Community Hospital

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly T.D., will officially turn the sod on the new Letterkenny Community Hospital today.

The completed development will comprise of 110 beds including a mix of long/short stay rehabilitation and dementia care with associated resident accommodation.

The net construction cost of the facility is €52 million, and it is anticipated that the new Community Hospital will be operational in early 2026.

The first floor of the new Letterkenny Community Hospital will provide two 25 bed households for stepdown or medical rehab use alongside a Rehabilitation Unit.

The Rehabilitation Unit will comprise of Physiotherapy treatment rooms, Occupational Therapy rooms, Speech & Language Therapy room, consultation room and outdoor therapy space.

The ground floor of the development will provide two 25 bed household units which will accommodate 50 long stay residential beds with outdoor space.

Each household will comprise of single bedrooms with en-suite facilities. There is also one twin room all with en-suite facilities. There is a day room, activity room, dining room with a dedicated kitchenette and an assisted bathroom.

Separate to the household this floor will provide for the main hospital catering department, staff changing/ dining facilities and other service delivery areas. 

The lower ground floor will provide a 10 bed Dementia Specific unit which has been designed as a household model with an additional multi-sensory room, quiet room and courtyard spaces/garden.  The design of the Dementia unit will support the continued engagement of the residents living with dementia in meaningful person centered activities. 

Separate from the Dementia unit the lower ground floor will also provide for the main entrance, reception area, office space and communal facilities for the hospital such as hairdressers Room, reflective room, visitor room and meeting rooms.

The project was designed by MCA Architects (Dublin) and Local Contractor Boyle Construction have been appointed to build following an open tender process.

Minister Donnelly said: 

“I’m delighted to be in Donegal today to turn the sod on what will be a state of the art new facility. This new community hospital will ensure that our older persons receive the most modern and vital care in comfortable and homely surroundings.”

Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo said:

“We are delighted to have Minister Donnelly turn the sod on this exciting new chapter in care for older persons in county Donegal. Letterkenny Community Hospital will offer both long and short stay options as well as a Dementia care. It will also offer Rehabilitation. This will ensure we can provide the best of treatment to those older persons who require it in this purpose built facility.”