The new €5.5 million Endoscopy Unit at Roscommon Hospital has opened it’s doors today. It is being opened on a phased based over a period of six weeks, as not all of the 19 staff that will work in the unit are in place immediately.
The new facility will increase the endoscopy capacity of the hospital from 16 procedures per day currently to 30 procedures per day or 6,000 per annum.
The Endoscopy Department has been built above the existing Urgent Care Centre and has an entrance adjacent to St Bridget’s Ward with a separate lift and stairs. It includes the following areas
• A reception and a waiting area;
• Two patient preparation rooms;
• A consultation / examination room;
• Two endoscopy procedure rooms;
• A recovery area with a nurses’ observation area where patients rest immediately after the procedure;
• A recovery area / lounge where patients move to when they are getting ready to go home; and
• Decontamination, storage and equipment rooms.
The department will be open five days per week and will carry out endoscopy procedures for patients as day cases and for patients who are in hospital. The new unit was designed to follow the flow of patients as they check in, have their procedure, spend time in the recovery areas and prepare to go home. The layout will also reduce stress for patients and help maintain privacy.
Roscommon Hospital has been accredited by JAG to carry out endoscopies, meaning that it meets the highest possible standards of care. The Hospital is now an approved centre for colorectal screening under the governance of the National Cancer Screening Service and will cater for patients from throughout the region.
The news has been welcomed by Michael Fitzmaurice TD who said “During the talks on Government formation this is an issue that I raised as a matter of urgency and I am glad that it is now opening with the creation of 19 jobs (12 nurses, 3 administrative staff and 4 health care assistants).
Any increase in services at Roscommon Hospital is welcome and I will continue to fight for improved services not only at Roscommon Hospital but in the community as well” he concluded.