Residents move into new Ballyshannon Community Hospital

The HSE is pleased to confirm that the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital will open today, the 20th of February 2024.

Today 26 residents will move into their new home at the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital.

The €36.7 million facility located at the site of the old Sheil Hospital in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

Ballyshannon Community Hospital features 52 long stay beds, 20 short stay beds providing, convalescence, rehabilitation, respite and palliative care beds, 8 Dementia specific assessment beds and a Day Hospital Service.

The new hospital via Primary Care Services will provide a full range of supporting professional services for the older person in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo areas including Speech and Language Therapist, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietician, Podiatry, Tissue Viability Nurse Specialist, Dentistry, Audiology, Clinical Nurse Specialist Dementia, Psychiatry of old age and Social worker, Advocacy and Spiritual services. In addition a Hairdressing facility, Newspapers/ Magazines/ Shopping requirements, Dry cleaning and Taxis/transport will be made available to residents and patients.

The new community hospital also features 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 1st  phase of the opening of the new facility is for the existing residents in the community Nursing Unit based at the Rock to  transfer to this new facility, which will allow for care to be given in the most appropriate modern health care environment which will benefit their needs and promote a high quality of life. 

The 2nd phase of opening will include the commissioning of additional beds within the facility which will take place following a  pre planned re-engagement of the parties at the Workplace Relations Commission(WRC) in the coming weeks.

In preparation for the opening, successful recruitment campaigns have been ran at both local and national level to ensure that the appropriate staff grades are available to fill the approved posts within the Service.  The staffing complement attached to the hospital is significant and will contribute to the wider social and economic development of the community in the South Donegal, North Leitrim and North Sligo areas.

An official opening of the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital will take place at a later date.

Some of the returning residents left the Old Sheil Hospital in March 2021 to allow for construction of the new hospital, relocating to the Rock Hospital.

One of these is Margot O’Kane said “ I am very happy and looking forward to moving into my new home. I am nervous and excited.’’

Head of Service Older Persons Services Frank Morrison said “We are beyond delighted to welcome our residents into their new home. This state of the art facility will provide the most modern care and comforts for the residents.”

Donna Reid, Person in Charge, Ballyshannon Community Hospital, said "It is fantastic that we have now reached the point where we can open the doors of our brand new Ballyshannon Community Hospital to our residents. This is such a great facility for the provision of older person services in our community. I am so looking forward to welcoming our residents and their families into the new hospital enabling us to provide them the very best care."