Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin has opened five new state-of-the-art theatres and a new sterile services department. They replace theatres that have been in use since 1956.
The theatres have been put into immediate use. A spokesperson for the hospital said two more theatres would become operational in January when phase 2 of the building plan was complete.
The hospital is hoping to have an official opening in January 2004.
Included in the new development are two cardiac theatres, an ultra clean orthopaedic theatre and two laser theatres.
Associated with the theatres are eleven beds in a post-anaesthetic care unit and a new sterile services department, which includes the first medical decontamination unit in Ireland.
The development features specially commissioned artwork by the Ark Cultural Trust. A time capsule sponsored by Heart Children Ireland has been placed in the ground in one of the internal courtyards within the development.
Completion of the new operating theatres and ancillary facilities involves an expenditure of some €50 million, financed by the ERHA and by a number of private sources, including The Children's Medical & Research Foundation.