Galway Bay fm newsroom – Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar says the new 75-bed ward being built at University Hospital Galway, will mean extra beds at the hospital.
It had originally been planned that the new block would replace older wards which are no longer suitable.
Minister Varadkar has confirmed to Galway West Fine Gael election candidate, Sean Kyne that it’s now intended that the new ward in Newcastle will result in additional beds, rather than replacement beds.
Minister Varadkar says this reflects his decision to reverse the policy of reducing bed capacity and is a response to overcrowding at the hospital.
The Health Minister says some of the older wards will need to be renovated on a phased basis from 2017 onwards and some beds may be lost as a result.
However, he adds that there will still be a net gain in bed capacity overall.