View artist's image of huge extension to Laois HSE nursing home

Construction is underway on a multi million extension to a HSE nursing home in Laois.

St Vincent's Community Nursing Unit in Mountmellick is getting the first of two new two storey residential wings, that added to a final upgrade in the main building, will create 130 ensuite rooms for residents.

Work on the plan first revealed in 2016, finally got underway in recent weeks.

Phase I will deliver 50 rooms.

Below is the artist's impression of what the full upgrade will look like when it is complete. Read more below image.

The work which will replace large wards with single ensuite bedrooms, is essential to make the unit compliant with HIQA patient standards. The home, built on the site of a former famine workhouse, currently has about 80 beds with some large wards lying closed because they were uncompliant. 

The whole project was expected to cost €23.7 million when first announced in 2016 by then Minister Charlie Flanagan. No new estimate has yet been confirmed. 

The first new wing will be built to the north east of the site near the road on a green area. It will connect back to the existing hospital.

"This phase will not impact on current accommodation and service operations," the HSE said in a plan for the building. 

It is expected to take over two years, with a finish date of June 2025, followed by a period of fitting out the new building, which could well bring it to 2026 before residents and staff can move in.

The Health Service Executive confirmed the start of the works to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"The commencement notice has been lodged and the appointed Contractor is currently mobilising on site with a view to starting work in the coming weeks. It is anticipated that the construction phase will be completed in Q2 2025 with the equipping phase taking place following this," a spokesperson said.

In 2015 the health service watchdog HIQA banned admissions at the hospital. A year later, in 2016, when the ban was lifted, Laois TD and Minister Charlie Flanagan announced funding of €23.7 million for a 130-bed unit.

This unit was due to have been completed by 2021. The HSE applied in 2020 to build phase 1, a 50-bed unit at a cost of around €11 million.

Enabling works were complete by February 2021. These include a new carpark, underground fire prevention water tank and the removal of mature trees. 

"The provision of this new build with single en-suite room accommodation will provide much needed modern facility for those in need of residential care," the HSE say.

Phase Two will be even bigger, a 60 bed unit including a 10 bed dementia unit.

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It will involve the demolition of the single story wing to the right of the hospital which is currently St Anne's dementia ward. The dementia patients may have to move temporarily to the first new wing. 

Lastly, Phase Three will refurbish the first floor of the existing building to provide 20 ensuite single bedrooms.